Family, friends plead for kidnapped SA photojournalist’s safe return

All South Africa wants is for Shiraaz Mohamed to be sent home to South Africa, after he was abducted nine days ago by persons unknown in Syria.

Tribute was paid to the photojournalist at a night vigil held in the Lenasia South civic center on Wednesday night for his safe return.

“He’s covered among other assignments the floods in Malawi, the Lesotho elections, immigrant attacks in this country, anti-poaching protests, child marriages in Mozambique, the Oscar Pistorius trial and local elections,” said long time friend and colleague Dennis Farrell.

Mohamed’s family said in a statement it would like to thank fellow South Africans for their support and understanding since he was captured.

“It is all becoming too overwhelming for myself and Shiraaz’s family,” his ex wife Shirley Brijlal said, who was at the vigil last night.

“What do we say every time someone asks how we are doing? We are paralysed with worry and concern for Shiraaz. All we can do is hold on to our Creator and know that His will is being done to bring Shiraaz safely back to us.”

Brijlal said the situation was becoming more and more devastating as the hours flew past.

READ MORE: Kidnappers ‘wanted to question Mohamed over misunderstanding’ 

“It’s becoming scarier. His mum and sisters will not be attending the vigil. They send their heartfelt gratitude and hope this vigil and the public support will add momentum to the efforts being made to find Shiraaz. You all remain in our prayers as a family,” Brijlal said.

On Tuesday international organisation Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) also called for Mohamed’s release.

“We call for the immediate release of Shiraaz Mohamed, who entered Syria to help document the plight of Syrian civilians,” said CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, Sherif Mansour in a statement.

“His abduction is a reminder that journalists face an unprecedented threat of kidnapping throughout Syria, including in rebel-held Idlib province where Mohamed was taken.”

Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, told CPJ no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping or issued any demands.

Sooliman told CPJ that Gift of the Givers had facilitated Mohamed’s entry into Syria in early January as part of an informal agreement to take pictures on the group’s behalf.

According to Sooliman, Mohamed was not restricted to taking pictures for the foundation and he believed that Mohamed planned to publish photos elsewhere upon his return.

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped Mohamed and two aid workers in Idlib province on January 10, when they were traveling to the Turkish border, according to the South Africa-based humanitarian group Gift of the Givers Foundation and news reports.

The gunmen freed the two aid workers but said they were keeping Mohamed for questioning over an unspecified “misunderstanding,” the reports said.

The day before Mohamed’s planned departure, the photographer texted his family to say there was a risk he may be detained when leaving the province, according to a family statement published in the press. He did not provide further details in the message.

While in Syria, Mohamed published several pictures of Syrian children on his personal Facebook profile. He has previously contributed to outlets including The Associated Press and the European Press photo Agency.

Both the AP and the EPA told CPJ that Mohamed was not on assignment for them in Syria. Most major news outlets have stopped accepting freelance submissions from Syria because of the risk of kidnapping and death.

Gift of the Givers issued a statement on Tuesday saying that a member of its medical team, Ahmad Ghandour, was summoned by Fatah al-Sham Front, the Al-Qaeda linked group formerly known as the al – Nusra Front, about Mohamed’s kidnapping.

The group is one of the most powerful in Idlib province where Mohamed was taken. The statement said members of the group questioned Ghandour about the “misunderstanding” that allegedly led to Mohamed’s kidnapping and pledged to help assist in the search for the photographer.

More than 100 journalists have been kidnapped in Syria since 2011, according to CPJ research.

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