[VIDEO] A Mother Makes An Emotional Plea To ISIS For The Release Of Her Journalist Son
Steven Sotloff is being held by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. In an emotional video released by The New York Times, his mother, Shirley Sotloff, spoke directly to the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, pleading him to use his right and show mercy on her son.
By Sadho Ram — 28 Aug 2014, 09:27 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
The mother of Steven Sotloff, an American journalist who is being held hostage by ISIS, has released a video pleading with the group's leader to free her son. Published by The New York Times, the video shows Shirley Sotloff asking Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to show mercy.
‘I am Shirley Sotloff. My son Steven is in your hands,’she said in a video posted on The New York Times website.
Image via New York TimesThe mother of an American hostage being held by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria released an emotional video appeal to his captors on Wednesday. Shirley Sotloff, the mother of the 31-year-old freelance journalist Steven J. Sotloff, addressed her plea directly to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS and the self-declared caliph of the Muslim world.
nytimes.com
Shirley Sotloff directs her message to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whom she addresses with his self-proclaimed title, caliph. She then calls on him to exercise his right to show clemency and follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad as previous caliphs did.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi recently appeared in public for the first time in years last month
Image via bbcimg.co.uk“I am sending this message to you, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Quraishi al-Hussaini, the caliph of the Islamic State. I am Shirley Sotloff. My son Steven is in your hands,” she said in a video posted on The New York Times website. “You, the caliph, can grant amnesty. I ask you please to release my child,” she continues. “I ask you to use your authority to spare his life.”
theguardian.com
It's a tense, emotional glimpse into her effort, against all odds, to appeal to the human decency of her son's captors who beheaded James Foley and have threatened to do the same to Steven. However, referring to Baghdadi as the caliph could be seen as controversial, as it suggests the group is gaining legitimacy.
bustle.comSteven Sotloff has been missing in Syria since August 2013. Last week, ISIS released a video showing the beheading of James Foley. Sotloff also appeared in that video, and the group threatened to kill him next if the US Govt. continues to launch airstrikes.
Steven Sotloff seen here being held by the ISIS fighter who beheaded Foley. Sotloff was specifically pictured and threatened at the end of the James Foley execution video, raising fears that he could be killed as Foley was.
Image via says.comSteven Sotloff was covering the civil war in Syria and is said to have been kidnapped after entering northern Syria from Turkey on Aug. 4, 2013, The Post has reported. Until recently, Sotloff’s family has been publicly quiet about his kidnapping in the hopes that public silence might keep him safe.
washingtonpost.comSteven Sotloff's case was not widely reported after his mother was told by IS militants he would be killed if she publicised it. But last week, Mr Sotloff appeared at the end of an IS video showing the beheading of James Foley. The masked militant who beheaded Mr Foley held Mr Sotloff by the collar and said: "The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision."
"I ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over," the Miami-based teacher appeals while explaining that she has been studying Islam since his capture, and urges the ISIS' leader to follow the path of Islam's founder
“I ask you to use your authority to spare his life and to follow the example set by the Prophet Muhammad, who protected People of the Book” — a reference to Christians and Jews.
nytimes.com
She adds that in her study she has learned that Islam teaches that “no individual should be held responsible for the sins of others.” “Steven has no control over the actions of the U.S. government,” she continues. “He is an innocent journalist.”
washingtonpost.comShirley ends the video by telling Baghdadi: "I want what every mother wants: I want to live to see her children's children. I plead with you to grant me this." WATCH:
Speaking about the video, Christopher Voss, ex-FBI hostage negotiator, says that Shirley was respectful of the kidnappers, and that was wise of her. Demonstrating respect is one of the best things to do in these situations, and it's also one of the hardest things.
The chances of success are slim, and it takes a lot of courage to try something that most likely will fail. To be able to pull yourself together and choose this kind of approach is an indication you're an extremely strong human being. Still it's a wise choice. I believe she would never be able to forgive herself if she hadn't gone ahead and tried.
ISIS is also holding two humanitarian workers, a man and a woman. They are not being identified at their families' request. Meanwhile, out of public view, the family and a number of government agencies have been trying to gain Steven's release for the past year.
Sotloff, 31, grew up in South Florida with his mother, father and younger sister. He majored in journalism at the University of Central Florida. His personal Facebook page lists musicians like the Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Miles Davis and movies like "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Big Lebowski" as favorites. On his Twitter page, he playfully identifies himself as a "stand-up philosopher from Miami."
cnn.comIn 2004, Sotloff left UCF and moved back to the Miami area. He graduated from another college, began taking Arabic classes and subsequently picked up freelance writing work for a number of publications, including Time, Foreign Policy, World Affairs and the Christian Science Monitor. His travels took him to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey -- among other countries -- and eventually Syria.
time.com