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Wife breaks silence over Spanish journalist's kidnap in Syria Wife breaks silence over Spanish journalist's kidnap in Syria
(about 7 hours later)
Javier Espinosa, a Spanish newspaper reporter, and Ricardo Garcia Vilanova, a freelance photographer, were a few miles from the safety of the Turkish border when al-Qaida militants kidnapped them in northern Syria in September. On Tuesday Espinosa's wife broke an almost three-month silence surrounding their disappearance in the hope that publicity might bring what negotiations had failed to deliver.Javier Espinosa, a Spanish newspaper reporter, and Ricardo Garcia Vilanova, a freelance photographer, were a few miles from the safety of the Turkish border when al-Qaida militants kidnapped them in northern Syria in September. On Tuesday Espinosa's wife broke an almost three-month silence surrounding their disappearance in the hope that publicity might bring what negotiations had failed to deliver.
In doing so Monica Prieto, who has also reported on the Syrian war, has cast new light on a conflict in which about 35 media and aid workers have been kidnapped and 55 killed, and which now ranks among the most dangerous of any war to cover in the past 50 years.In doing so Monica Prieto, who has also reported on the Syrian war, has cast new light on a conflict in which about 35 media and aid workers have been kidnapped and 55 killed, and which now ranks among the most dangerous of any war to cover in the past 50 years.
Prieto's appeal has also raised questions about the effectiveness of blackouts as a means of winning captives' freedom. The families of at least two other missing reporters continue to avoid publicity, fearing that it may increase the value of the victims in the eyes of their abductors.Prieto's appeal has also raised questions about the effectiveness of blackouts as a means of winning captives' freedom. The families of at least two other missing reporters continue to avoid publicity, fearing that it may increase the value of the victims in the eyes of their abductors.
Using middle men, Prieto had tried to reach out to her husband's kidnappers, but the approaches yielded nothing. The jihadis responsible for kidnapping journalists in Syria generally make no ransom demands, eschew dialogue and keep their prisoners completely isolated, all the while transforming the country's anti-Assad revolution from a homegrown rights movement to an epicentre of global jihad.Using middle men, Prieto had tried to reach out to her husband's kidnappers, but the approaches yielded nothing. The jihadis responsible for kidnapping journalists in Syria generally make no ransom demands, eschew dialogue and keep their prisoners completely isolated, all the while transforming the country's anti-Assad revolution from a homegrown rights movement to an epicentre of global jihad.
"We have reached an impasse with the captors after many weeks of attempted mediation," Prieto told a media conference in Beirut. "Today we appeal to the Syrian people and all armed groups to help release Javier and Ricardo who have always been committed to showing the human face and suffering of the Syrian people during these very difficult times. Please honour the revolution they protected and set them free.""We have reached an impasse with the captors after many weeks of attempted mediation," Prieto told a media conference in Beirut. "Today we appeal to the Syrian people and all armed groups to help release Javier and Ricardo who have always been committed to showing the human face and suffering of the Syrian people during these very difficult times. Please honour the revolution they protected and set them free."
Joel Simon, executive director of the Centre for the Protection of Journalists, said: "Despite the immense dangers, Javier and Ricardo have repeatedly entered Syria to report on this war that has devastated the Syrian people. We call for the immediate release of all journalists who are held against their will."Joel Simon, executive director of the Centre for the Protection of Journalists, said: "Despite the immense dangers, Javier and Ricardo have repeatedly entered Syria to report on this war that has devastated the Syrian people. We call for the immediate release of all journalists who are held against their will."
The spate of kidnappings in Syria has escalated sharply since May, with nearly all victims seized by the Islamic State of Iraq in Syria (Isis), the most hardline of several al-Qaida-linked groups, which increasingly holds sway in parts of the north. Espinosa and Vilanova are being held in Raqaa by an Isis unit that is also thought to have captured seven other foreigners and an unknown number of Syrians.The spate of kidnappings in Syria has escalated sharply since May, with nearly all victims seized by the Islamic State of Iraq in Syria (Isis), the most hardline of several al-Qaida-linked groups, which increasingly holds sway in parts of the north. Espinosa and Vilanova are being held in Raqaa by an Isis unit that is also thought to have captured seven other foreigners and an unknown number of Syrians.
Since the start of the Syrian uprising, journalists have been forced into a cat and mouse game with forces hostile to them. At first their pursuers were solely the Syrian regime, which has kept most reporters out of the country and aggressively gone after those who illegally crossed borders. Since the start of the Syrian uprising journalists have been forced into a cat and mouse game with forces hostile to them. At first their pursuers were solely the Syrian regime, which has kept most reporters out of the country and aggressively gone after those who illegally crossed borders.
In August 2012 four key border crossings to Turkey fell to rebel groups, who at that point had not yet been joined by jihadists from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. For several months, dozens of reporters then travelled freely into the areas around Aleppo, Idlib, Raqaa and Deir Azzor, often escorted by rebel groups as they chronicled battles and the growing humanitarian crisis. In August 2012 four key border crossings to Turkey fell to rebel groups, who at that point had not yet been joined by jihadists from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. For several months dozens of reporters then travelled freely into the areas around Aleppo, Idlib, Raqaa and Deir Azzor, often escorted by rebel groups as they chronicled battles and the growing humanitarian crisis.
By November 2012, jihadists had been pouring into northern Syria for several months. And by May, Isis in particular was imposing its will on communities that mostly fear and distrust them. Abductions quickly became prolific, even as the number of reporters crossing the porous border with Turkey fell drastically. By November 2012 jihadists had been pouring into northern Syria for several months. And by May Isis in particular was imposing its will on communities that mostly fear and distrust them. Abductions quickly became prolific, even as the number of reporters crossing the porous border with Turkey fell drastically.
Also being held by Isis, but in different locations to Vilanova and Espinosa, are four French journalists, among them Didier François and the photographer Edouard Elias, who were working for the radio station Europe 1 when they went missing on 13 July. Nicolas Henin, a freelance journalist, and Pierre Torres, a photographer, were travelling near Raqaa when they were detained in June.Also being held by Isis, but in different locations to Vilanova and Espinosa, are four French journalists, among them Didier François and the photographer Edouard Elias, who were working for the radio station Europe 1 when they went missing on 13 July. Nicolas Henin, a freelance journalist, and Pierre Torres, a photographer, were travelling near Raqaa when they were detained in June.
Two American freelance reporters, James Foley and Austin Tice, are also missing: Foley vanished in the north around 22 November last year; Tice disappeared in Damascus several months earlier. Marc Marginedas, a Spanish correspondent, disappeared near Syria's fourth city, Hama, on 4 September.Two American freelance reporters, James Foley and Austin Tice, are also missing: Foley vanished in the north around 22 November last year; Tice disappeared in Damascus several months earlier. Marc Marginedas, a Spanish correspondent, disappeared near Syria's fourth city, Hama, on 4 September.
In mid-October a three-person crew from Sky News Arabia comprising the Mauritanian correspondent Ishak Mortar, the Lebanese photographer Samir Kassab and an unnamed Syrian driver were captured near Aleppo.In mid-October a three-person crew from Sky News Arabia comprising the Mauritanian correspondent Ishak Mortar, the Lebanese photographer Samir Kassab and an unnamed Syrian driver were captured near Aleppo.
Last month two Swedish freelancers, Magnus Falkehed and the photographer Niclas Hammarstram, were captured in the Qalamoun ranges east of the Lebanese border. They were among the few to have crossed into Syria from Lebanon since a broadcast team were captured in March. The team escaped their captors 10 days later. Last month two Swedish freelancers, Magnus Falkehed and the photographer Niclas Hammarstrom, were captured in the Qalamoun ranges east of the Lebanese border. They were among the few to have crossed into Syria from Lebanon since a broadcast team were captured in March. The team escaped their captors 10 days later.
Espinosa, a staff writer for El Mundo whose work has also appeared in the Guardian, was one of a few reporters to have repeatedly travelled to Syria even as the dangers escalated. The 49-year-old had been in the Bab Amr district of Homs when it was besieged by the Syrian army in February last year, surviving an artillery barrage that killed Marie Colvin, Sunday Times veteran, and Remi Ochlik, a French photographer. Espinosa, a staff writer for El Mundo whose work has also appeared in the Guardian, was one of a few reporters to have repeatedly travelled to Syria even as the dangers escalated.
"Javier didn't only survive the bombardment of Baba Amr, which killed two of his colleagues right before his eyes," said Prieto. "He even chose to stay in the neighbourhood until the last civilian was evacuated. When I asked him to leave before the fall of Homs, he told me he had the obligation to stay and report. I reminded him that our children needed him alive, and he replied by telling me that the children of Syria needed the world's attention." The 49-year-old had been in the Bab Amr district of Homs when it was besieged by the Syrian army in February last year, surviving an artillery barrage that killed Marie Colvin, Sunday Times veteran, and Remi Ochlik, a French photographer.
Eighteen months later, Espinosa and Vilanova were less than 15 minutes from the Turkish border when they were stopped at a checkpoint by Isis operatives. They were being escorted to safety by members of the Free Syria Army, who were also seized – a sign of who calls the shots around Raqaa. The rebels were let go 12 days later, while the pair have been held in silence. European intelligence officials and interlocutors who have reached out to the jihadists are confident that they are alive. "Javier didn't only survive the bombardment of Baba Amr, which killed two of his colleagues right before his eyes," said Prieto. "He even chose to stay in the neighbourhood until the last civilian was evacuated.
"When I asked him to leave before the fall of Homs, he told me he had the obligation to stay and report. I reminded him that our children needed him alive, and he replied by telling me that the children of Syria needed the world's attention."
Eighteen months later, Espinosa and Vilanova were less than 15 minutes from the Turkish border when they were stopped at a checkpoint by Isis operatives. They were being escorted to safety by members of the Free Syria Army, who were also seized – a sign of who calls the shots around Raqaa.
The rebels were released 12 days later, while the two journalists have been held in silence. European intelligence officials and interlocutors who have reached out to the jihadists are confident that they are alive.
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