Kidnappers ‘wanted to question Mohamed over misunderstanding’

Desperate attempts to find South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed continued yesterday, as international aid organisation Gift of the Givers tried to establish who had kidnapped him in war-torn Syria.

Mohamed disappeared six days ago while on his way to the Turkish border with two representatives of Gift of the Givers. According to director of Gift of the Givers Imtiaz Sooliman, the kidnappers said they wanted to question Mohamed about “a misunderstanding” and would return him in two days to the Gift of the Givers’ Ar Rahma Hospital.

“What misunderstanding we don’t know,” Sooliman said. Mohamed has not been heard from since. Days after the kidnapping, a doctor working for Gift of the Givers was questioned by the jihadist organisation Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, over Mohamed’s disappearance.

“Dr Ahmad Ghandour was summoned to the investigation department of the al-Nusra Front to answer questions on Mohamed,” said Sooliman. Ghandour was apparently met by two armed men in military uniform with veiled faces. He was then blindfolded and taken to an unknown area where he waited in isolation for about an hour before being questioned.

“They wanted to know what the misunderstanding was that was referred to by those who captured Shiraaz.”

Mohamed was living with Ghandour by invitation. Mohamed requested Ghandour to take him to Aleppo, but Gift of the Givers had refused due to safety concerns. According to Sooliman, Ghandour delivered a message to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham on behalf of Gift of the Givers.

“He conveyed Gift of the Givers’ message that we are extremely annoyed with this incident. We have supported the Syrian people with massive humanitarian life-saving projects for the last four years.

“This was predominantly South African support and it was an insult to us that a South African was captured,” Sooliman said. “The al-Nusra people said they have an interest in the case and will assist in the search for Mohamed.”

According to Sooliman, Ghandour was safely transported to his sister’s house after his questioning. Sherif Mansour of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) said Mohamed was documenting the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Syria.

“His job is to let the world take notice and stop the suffering of the Syrian people. Those who hold him must release him immediately and ensure his safe return to his family.”

Mohamed’s ex-wife, Shaaziya Brijlal, said: “As a family, we are devastated. The ‘not knowing’ is the hardest part.”

According to the CPJ, Syria was the deadliest country in the world for journalists in 2016, with at least 14 journalists killed as the conflict in that country raged on. Mohamed is the publishing editor of community tabloids Ennerdale Sun and Roshnee Gazette, and began his career on the Southern Globe.

– amandaw@citizen.co.za