Abducted journalist has ‘compassion’ for Syrian children
Mother worries about fate of ex-marine seen in web video likely held by pro-government forces
Debra Tice just wants her family to be complete again.
The mother of American freelance journalist Austin Tice, 31, who was reporting from Syria when he went missing in mid-August and appeared in a grainy Internet video posted online Sept. 26 being held captive, told the Toronto Star in an email interview that her son cared deeply about what he was doing in the Middle Eastern country embroiled in a bloody civil war.
“Our primary concern is returning him home safely,” she wrote.
The video, which came to light Monday on a pro-Syrian government Facebook page called Media Channel for Assad’s Syria, was the first sign of Austin Tice’s condition since he disappeared more than seven weeks ago.
His family confirmed it was, in fact, their son in the video.
“Knowing Austin is alive and well is comforting to our family,” Debra Tice, who lives in Houston, Texas, wrote. “Though it is difficult to see our eldest son in such a setting and situation as that depicted in the video, it is reassuring that he appears to be unharmed.”
Tice used social media to stay in touch with family and friends, and to make contact with sources and Free Syria Army rebels. He used Flickr, a popular photo sharing website, posting photos of anti-government demonstrations — his last posted photo on Aug. 7 — and of young children removing rubble from graves destroyed by pro-government forces.
His last Twitter post on Aug.11said he spent the day at a rebel pool party, listening to Taylor Swift and enjoying whisky.
“Hands down, best birthday ever,” he concluded.
It was one of the last times anyone heard from Tice.
The former infantry officer with the United States Marine Corps began a freelance journalism career at the beginning of 2012.
After seven years in the military, doing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a precision fires expert and infantry platoon commander, Tice wrote on his LinkedIn profile he wanted to be a journalist.
“I would prefer to work for one organization over freelancing,” he wrote in his summary.
“I can write, film, snap and speak, so if your organization is looking for an all-in-one crisis correspondent willing to get the stories others won’t, call me.”
Writing for the Washington Post and McClatchy-Tribune, Tice was smuggled into Syria, writing firsthand accounts of the devastating impact the war had on the Syrian population and the firefights he witnessed.
One piece he wrote for the Post that also ran in the Star focused on a rebel unit commander in Khan Sheikhoun who never wanted to fight, but was forced into it when the government began attacking the revolutionaries.
“His compassion for the people,
“Knowing Austin is alive and well is comforting to our family. Though it is difficult to see our eldest son in such a setting . . . it is reassuring that he appears to be unharmed.”
DEBRA TICE MOTHER OF MISSING JOURNALIST AUSTIN TICE
and especially the children of Syria led him to his current journalism work,” Debra wrote of her son. “Austin is a fine man, a precious son, and a loving brother.” Both McClatchy and the Washington Post have appealed for Tice’s release. Marcus Brauchli, executive editor of the Washington Post, spoke to The Canadian Press, stating Tice should be released promptly and unharmed. “Austin is a journalist who was doing his job,” he said. “He should be allowed to return to his family.” In the weeks after Tice went missing, the Czech government — which represents American interests in Syria — said it had information that Tice was in Syrian government custody but had yet to get confirmation from Syrian authorities. With files from Star wire services