Still no rescue for SA journalist kidnapped in Syria

Today marks exactly a week since South African photo journalist Shiraaz Mohamed was kidnapped in Syria, and there’s still no word on his whereabouts.

Mohamed was kidnapped by armed men on Tuesday, January 10, while trying to leave Syria through the Turkish border. Mohamed was travelling with humanitarian organisation the Gift of the Givers at the time of his disappearance. He was taken hosted with two members of the South African relief group Gift of the Givers at the time of his abduction. But they were released while Shiraaz was not.

The Gift of the Givers has said that it is still trying to make contact with the kidnappers while also speaking to the Turkish government.

According to news sources, Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman says no one has claimed responsibility for Mohamed’s abduction. The organisation’s representatives met with Turkish government officials on Monday, who promised to help locate Mohamed.

Several Syrians, people abroad and South Africans have offered to help in the search for Mohamed.

Mohamed is a photo-journalist based in Johannesburg. He had been travelling with the Gift of the Givers on assignment, when he was abducted.