Salaamedia | 14 May 2019
A new video of kidnapped South African photojournalist, Shiraz Mohamed, has surfaced on video sharing site, YouTube.
The Johannesburg based photographer was taken by unknown masked men while on an assignment for the Gift of the Givers humanitarian organisation in Syria on 10 January 2017.
His exact whereabouts have been indefinite although from his video messages it appeared as if he was in the Idlib area where as he claimed Russian bombardments have been taking place recently.
Last month the first video evidence that proved that he was alive was anonymously sent to the organisation’s head, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman.
Sooliman at the time said that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of US $1.5m for Shiraz’s release. He has said that they have been working hard to use whatever contacts they have to secure the release of Shiraz.
However in the latest video posted to YouTube on 4 May 2019, Shiraz wearing a white t-shirt and handcuffs, supposedly accused the organisation and the South African government of not doing enough to secure his release.
“My name is Shiraz Mohamed, a South African photographer. To my family, to my president, to my government, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, you sent me here but now you have forgotten about me. I can’t understand, you help the whole world but you can’t help me. To my friends, those who can help me, please I need your help. My situation is getting from bad to worse. I have survived two attacks from the Russian air-force. I don’t know what will happen a third time. I need your help. Please get me out of here,” he pleads.
Speaking to Salaamedia, Dr Imtiaz said they were aware of the video but at this stage unable to comment as they were still trying to get the safe return of Shiraz to South Africa.
