Mohamed’s family optimistic about his release
THE disappearance of Johannesburg-based photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed has left the country with questions and his family hoping for the best.
Mohamed, 38, is believed to have been kidnapped last Tuesday by individuals who said they “represent all groups inside Syria” on Aljamiliye Road near the Gift of the Givers Foundations’ Al Hilal Hospital.
The kidnappers reportedly singled out Mohamed in the group he was travelling in regarding a “misunderstanding”.
Mohamed was in Syria documenting the lives of people in the war-torn area.
Shirley Brijlal, Mohamed’s ex-wife, said the family was keeping a positive outlook and actively trying to find out more.
“When we first heard the news we were all devastated. But now we are all trying to make sense of all the information we are receiving through Dr Sooliman and Ahmed.
“We are counting on them to bring him back safely because he was their guest.
“But they have been very co-operative, giving us constant feedback and explaining to us some of the things we may not understand.”
One of the medical staff members at one of the foundations’ hospitals, Dr Ahmad Ghandour, was taken in for questioning on Friday by the Investigation Department of An Nusra (now Fath Al Sham), an ex al-Qaeda affiliate, to answer questions on Mohamed regarding the “misunderstanding” that was mentioned when he was kidnapped.
The foundation’s chief executive officer, Imtiaz Sooliman, detailed the events of the questioning, stating that Ghandour was asked what the “misunderstanding” was.
“They wanted to know if Shiraaz had some disagreement with Ahmad.
“Ahmad replied that on the contrary, Shiraaz was invited to have meals and sleep at his home, and that he had taken Shiraaz to some of the areas to take his pictures,” Sooliman said.
Meanwhile, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, who are also trying to secure Mohamed’s safe return, said they still had no information about his whereabouts.
“We have communicated with officials who are stationed in Lebanon and they are working on the ground trying to find out more about where he is.
“At the moment they have not come back to us with anything new, but they will provide feedback as soon as they have more information,” departmental spokesman Nelson Kgwete said.
Yesterday afternoon Mohamed’s Facebook page was filled with messages of support from his loved ones and friends, most of them wishing him a safe return. – Staff Writer