Shiraaz Mohamed. Image via Facebook.
Kidnapped photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed’s sister, Sumaya, spoke out on Wednesday against an organisation that has claimed it has been arranging his release in exchange for four Syrian jihadists.
“We have never heard of, or from, the organisation Truth Collective SA,” Sumaya Mohamed said. “They have not contacted the family to say this is our strategy, this is what we will be doing, and do we have the family’s consent.
“The first we heard of them was on Friday when it broke on the news. It was a huge shock to us, hearing about it on the radio. The man spoke about proof of life for my brother, yet we were not contacted by him or the organisation.
“It came as a huge shock to us. We are not sure how believable his claim is about the proof of life, if he is the only one who has seen this so-called proof of life. We have still not heard from him or the organisation.”
READ MORE: Truth Collective SA ‘not telling truth’ about Shiraaz Mohamed
Truth Collective SA (TCSA) director Bakar al-Maharmeh said on Friday he was not allowed to leave Syria with Shiraaz’s proof of life and would not discuss it further on the record.
Al-Maharmeh claimed his organisation had found Mohamed and had negotiated his release in exchange for four Syrian rebels belonging to a group that was formerly part of Al-Qaeda.
“We have not given the organisation permission to involve our brother in a prisoner swap. We understand it is very dangerous, highly risky and could endanger our brother’s life further and perhaps even cost him his life,” said a distressed Sumaya, adding the family had no idea of what experience TCSA had with hostage negotiation.
“We do not want our brother’s life to be placed in further danger,” she said.
“Gift of the Givers are in constant contact with us and are assisting in finding our brother; we have faith in their abilities. We thank everyone for their support and ask that everyone please continue to pray for our brother’s safe and swift return.”
Mohamed has been missing since early January. No demands or ransom have been requested for his release.
For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
