Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Al Qaida has been abducting journalists in Syria.

The Committee to Protect Journalists asserted that Al Qaida’s Islamic
State of Iraq and Levant was kidnapping journalists in Syria. The New
York-based group cited two ISIL raids of a radio station in October 2013.

“The number of journalists currently missing in Syria is nothing short of shocking,” Sheriff Mansour, the committee’s Middle East coordinator, said.

In a statement, the committee reported the abduction of 30 local and international journalists across Syria. Several cases have not been publicized at the request of family members of news outlets.

“Other cases that have come to light more recently include Rami Al Razzouk, a journalist for the local news outlet Radio ANA, who was abducted by gunmen from the Al Qaida affiliate Islamic State of Iraq and Sham on October 1, the station reported,” the committee said. “ISIS gunmen raided Radio ANA’s office again on October 15, confiscating the station’s radio and communications equipment, the station said.”

On Nov. 23, Sweden said two journalists were abducted by an unknown
group. The journalists were identified as Magnus Falkehed and Niclas
Hammarstrom.

“We call on all players in the conflict to respect journalists’ status
as civilians and ensure their safety,” Mansour said.

The committee linked ISIL to the abduction of Mohammed Matar during a
protest in Raqa in August 2013. The demonstration targeted ISIL, which
established an Islamist regime in the northern Syrian city. Later, Matar was
found dead in a suicide bombing.

“Matar was believed dead until friends and family received news that he
was being held by ISIS, according to Al-Shara’s Facebook page,” the
committee said. “Matar’s condition and whereabouts remain unknown, his
brother told CPJ.”

At times, ISIL has released journalists. One was Ziad Homsi, a Syrian
photographer and contributor to opposition media outlets, freed after a
month in captivity in November.

“Homsi was kidnapped by ISIS while returning to the Damascus suburbs
from Turkey in October, according to the regional press freedom group
SKeyes,” the committee said.

  ‘Shocking’ number of journalists being abducted by Al Qaida militias in Syria, Committee to Protect Journalists, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Radio ANA