Search for missing SA photojournalist intensifies

A poster is expected to have gone up in Syria in an attempt to communicate with the captors of South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed, who has been missing for 21 days.

According to humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers, indications are that Mohamed was taken by mistake and his captors are therefore afraid to release him for fear of being identified.

He was snatched this month by gunmen in Syria who had said they “wanted to clear up a misunderstanding”.

“It has been a tough week in trying to trace Shiraaz in Syria,” said the organisation’s founder, Imtiaz Sooliman.

“This is not because of a lack of cooperation but because of fighting between different groups, resulting in road closures and multiple check points.

“These make it difficult to access decision-makers as most of them have switched off mobiles for security reasons.”

He added that the same message was being received that Mohamed was alive.

“We were given some encouraging news in that all the groups met on Monday and declared a ceasefire from midnight on Monday. If this holds, freedom of movement will be much easier.

“All these ‘connected’ people have come to the same conclusion – that Shiraaz was taken by mistake but his captors don’t know how to release him without being identified.”

In response, Sooliman said Gift of the Givers prepared a special poster on Mohamed with a message directed to the captors.

The poster, translated, says: “Dear people of Syria. This is Shiraaz Mahomed during his minor pilgrimage (Umra).

“He has been taken by some people. We are very sure it’s a case of mistaken identity as Shiraaz came as a photographer to help the people of Syria.

“We request that whoever has taken him please release him somewhere safe.

“There will be no questions asked and we as South Africans will be very grateful.”

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