Mother of Isis hostage pleads for his life in video message indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxNews
Mother of Isis hostage pleads for his life in video message
Dina RickmanAug 28, 2014 The mother of an American journalist held captive by Islamic State (Isis) fighters has pleaded for the safe release of her son in a video message addressed directly to the militant group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Freelance journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, was abducted in Syria in August 2013. He appeared in a video released last week by Isis purporting to show the execution of American freelance journalist James Foley. In the footage an Isis fighter warns Mr Sotloff will be executed next if US airstrikes on Iraq continue. Now in a video broadcast on al-Arabiya, a pan-Arab TV network, his mother Shirley Sotloff has pleaded with Isis leader al-Baghdadi to "spare his life". "Steven is a journalist who travelled to the Middle East to cover the suffering of Muslims at the hands of tyrants," she says, looking directly to camera. "He is an honourable man and has always tried to help the weak." She adds that her son has no control on US policy, saying she has learned that "Islam teaches that no individual should be held responsible for the sins of others". "I've always learned that you, the caliph, can grant amnesty. I ask you to please release my child. As a mother, I ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over", she says. "I want what every mother wants: to live to see her children's children. I plead with you to grant me this." More: Remember James Foley for his fearless war reporting More: This is how James Foley should be remembered US actors Reynolds and McElhenney to be honoured by people of Wales
How will the next prime minister and Tory leader be chosen
Ellis-Bextor to get the party started at new show for Edinburgh s Hogmanay
Please log in or register to upvote this article Top 100
Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip
flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022 How likely is it that Boris Johnson could be prime minister again
Boris Johnsonboris johnsontory leadership contesttory leadership racetory leaderTory leadershiptory leadershipConservativesconservative partyConservative Partyconservative leadership raceconservativesBoris Johnson17h The Rocky career of Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnsonthe rockblack adamwweDwayne Johnson15h Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face
madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022 Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance
elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022 Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'
lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022 Just Stop Oil protester praised for ' great' explanation of soup stunt
just stop oilvan goghprotestclimate activistsjust stop oilOct 19, 2022 Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper
wedding caketiktokwedding cakeviralOct 12, 2022 Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos
Love IslandOct 11, 2022 Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'
steven seagalOct 10, 2022 Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West
lizzoOct 10, 2022 14 of the worst things the Tories did this week
liz trussOct 08, 2022 A lettuce just outlasted Liz Truss' stint as prime minister
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022 Newsnight guest says ' you can' t treat mortgages like prime ministers'
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022The Conversation (0)