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Pakistan Media Monitor

A look at some journalists missing in Syria

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 10 November 2013

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A look at some journalists missing in Syria
A significant number of journalists are reported missing while covering the ongoing civil war in Syria. This article highlights ten international journalists believed to be held hostage.

BEIRUT: At least 30 journalists currently are reported missing while covering Syria's civil war. The widespread abduction of journalists is unprecedented. Many have gone unreported in hope that keeping the kidnappings out of public view may help to negotiate the captives' release.

Here is a look at the 10 international journalists identified by their news organizations or families as currently missing or being held hostage in Syria:

— Bashar Al Kadumi: A Jordanian national of Palestinian origin. Al Kadumi works for U.S.-based satellite television news channel Al-Hurra. He was kidnapped Aug. 20 after crossing into Syria from Turkey.

— Edouard Elias and Didier Francois: French nationals. Both were reporting for French radio station Europe1. They were kidnapped June 6 as they were heading to the northern city of Aleppo from Syria's border with Turkey.

— James Foley: American. Foley was last seen Nov. 22 in northwestern Syria, where he was contributing videos to Agence France-Presse and the media company GlobalPost.

— Nicolas Henin and Pierre Torres: French reporter and photographer. Henin regularly reports for French news magazine Le Point and television channel Arte. The two were kidnapped June 22 by an unidentified group in Raqqa on June 22.

— Samir Kassab: Lebanese national. Kassab works as a cameraman for satellite channel Sky News Arabia and was kidnapped Oct. 15 while working near Aleppo.

— Marc Marginedas: Spanish journalist. Marginedas is a reporter for El Periodico and was kidnapped Sept. 4, 2012, near the city of Hama.

— Ishak Mokhtar: Mauritanian. Mokhtar is a reporter for Sky News Arabia. He was kidnapped Oct. 15 while working near Aleppo.

— Austin Tice: American. Tice (pictured) was working as a freelance journalist for the McClatchy newspaper chain, The Washington Post and satellite news channel Al-Jazeera English. He disappeared Aug. 13, 2012, while working in Damascus. - AP

Key Points

  • At least 30 journalists are missing in Syria.
  • The abduction of journalists has escalated during the civil war.
  • Ten international journalists currently identified as missing or abducted.
  • Examples include Bashar Al Kadumi, James Foley, and Austin Tice.
  • Efforts to keep these cases out of the public eye may aim to aid negotiations for their release.

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