Cape Town – Kidnapped South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed is alive and could soon be released by Syrian rebels, an NGO has told Eyewitness News.
According to NGO Truth Collective South Africa, the Syrian government has agreed to release four rebel fighters in exchange for Mohamed.
The South African was kidnapped while on the way to the Turkish border on January 10, near the hospital operated by aid group Gift of the Givers. The kidnappers put guns to the heads of two aid workers who were with Mohamed and then blindfolded all three and drove with the captives for an hour.
The gunmen freed the two aid workers but said they would question Mohamed to clear up an unspecified "misunderstanding" and would release him at a Gift of the Givers facility after two days. There has since been no communication from the kidnappers.
According to the EWN report, a delegation led by director of Truth Collective South Africa Bakar al-Maharmeh returned this week from Syria. He said Mohamed was being held by the Jabhat al-Nusra rebel group, who refused to negotiate with Gift of the Givers and Turkey.
Al-Maharmeh told EWN that he would return to Syria next month to secure Mohamed’s release.