On November 22, 2012, unidentified gunmen kidnapped American journalist James Foley at gunpoint in North West Syria. He is still missing but believed to be alive. The Global Post and the Foley family have recently stated that the reporter was abducted by pro-Syrian government militants and is being held in a detention center near Damascus.
US journalist James Foley likely held by #Syria government, GlobalPost has learned glpo.st/120PadI
— GlobalPost (@GlobalPost) May 3, 2013
In a speech made of World Press Freedom Day, GlobalPost CEO and President Phillip Balboni said, “With a very high degree of confidence, we now believe that Jim was most likely abducted by a pro-regime militia group and subsequently turned over to Syrian government forces.” Balboni continued to report that based on their findings, Jim is “being held with one or more Western journalist, including at least one other American.”
The Syrian government has yet to acknowledge knowing of Foley’s whereabouts.
This is not the first time the American reporter has been held captive. He was held by pro-Gaddafi forces for six weeks in Libya last year.
Syria is “the deadliest place for journalists“, who are deliberately targeted by both the government and rebel groups, according to a new human rights report.
According to the Huffington Post, at least 36 journalists have been killed in targeted attacks since 2011, but opposition and government groups have also targeted online reporting, hacking sites and sending death threats.