Hope for Shiraaz as Gift of the Givers make ‘progress’

Gift of the Givers director Imtiaz Sooliman said yesterday “a lot of progress” had been made in the search for abducted South African photographer Shiraaz Mohamed since his kidnapping in Syria 13 days ago.

He was loath to give details but he said a lot of people had come forward with information.

“Many high-level, influential people and journalists have come forward with assistance,” Sooliman said, adding that hopes were still high for Mohamed’s safe return.

Sooliman said an attempt to create an added awareness of Mohamed’s disappearance inside Syria – and also to honour journalists worldwide who put their lives on the line to bring the story home – was made last week.

“We decided to rename the Albunyan Almarsoos Camp the Gift of the Givers Shiraaz Mohamed Camp,” said Sooliman.

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There have also been numerous protests in the area where Mohamed was taken by persons unknown on January 10. Mohamed is not the only South African being held overseas, either. Stephen McGown has been held by Al-Qaeda in Timbuktu, Mali, together with Swede Johan Gustafsson, since November 25, 2011.

Dutch citizen Sjaak Rijke was captured with them but was rescued by French troops in April 2015. “My negotiators are in Mali right now.

“We are expecting a new proof of life video in the next few days,” Sooliman said.

In a December travel warning about Mali, the US department of state said violent extremist groups targeting foreigners, including Al-Qaeda in the Lands of Islamic Maghreb and al-Murabitoun, had claimed responsibility for multiple terrorist attacks in Mali over the past year, as well as kidnappings in Timbuktu and along the border with Burkina Faso.

Website terrorism-research. com said terrorists used kidnapping and hostage-taking to establish a bargaining position and to elicit publicity.

“Kidnapping is one of the most difficult acts for a terrorist group to accomplish. But if a kidnapping is successful, it can gain terrorists money, release of jailed comrades and publicity for an extended period,” the website stated.