Johannesburg – Photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed, abducted two weeks ago while travelling in war-torn Syria, is alive, aid group Gift of the Givers said on Monday.
Founder Imtiaz Sooliman said his organisation's task team in Syria was working hard to find Mohamed.
"The team members inside Syria and Turkey have been very active and the last three days have been particularly productive. Our limitation to make more detailed progress has been airstrikes and internal discord between certain groups.
"But despite these challenges, we have received excellent co-operation through 'connected' people who, through their own individual research and 'networks' have confirmed that Shiraaz is alive (just their word on this but no proof of life), they confirm the group that is holding him (though there is discrepancy between the different members of this group), they know the location where Shiraaz is held," Sooliman said in a statement on Monday.
He added that from the organisation's interaction with different people, including a prominent Syrian journalist, it appeared that the information was credible.
Gift of the Givers was waiting for further information. "We can't independently verify it as yet but we are not ignoring it. In the next 48 hours we are expecting more information, so we wait patiently. We have a very decisive plan and will use it as leverage if the need arises. But for now we want to diplomatically and amicably resolve the issue as no one really understands why Shiraaz was taken. It may be a case of mistaken identity so we are allowing a little more time for the processes to unfold in the best interests of Shiraaz."
"As an aside, we have Shiraaz's belongings, his laptop and camera."
Mohamed was abducted near a medical facility operated by Gift of the Givers in Syria.
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, according to Sooliman.
There has since been no communication from the kidnappers.