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Steven Sotloff still held hostage by ISIS militants who executed James Foley

THIS time last year he was an ordinary guy worried about his basketball team. Now, he’s a hostage of the world’s most terrifying group with his life on the line.

Victoria Craw, Liz Burke and Debra Killalea
3 min read
August 21, 2014 - 12:25PM
Steven Sotloff pictured in Egypt.
Steven Sotloff pictured in Egypt.

THIS time last year, Steven Sotloff was a journalist more worried about how much of an impact NBA star Greg Oden would have on the Miami Heat next season, than the situation in Syria.

Today his life is on the line, as he is held captive by one of the world’s most brutal terror organisations.

Sotloff is the second journalist featured in the horrific execution video released yesterday that showed the killing of James Foley at the hands of ISIS militants.

The group said Sotloff will be next, unless the US pulls troops out of Iraq. So who is the ordinary man in this terrifying situation?

A picture from Steven Sotloff's Facebook page.
A picture from Steven Sotloff's Facebook page.

The 31-year-old Miami-born journalist has worked for prestigious titles including TIME magazine.

He is believed to have gone missing in August 2013 while attempting to cross the Syrian border from Turkey. His last social media posts suggest he was based in Libya prior to his disappearance.

The award-winning reporter is no stranger to dangerous situations, having reported from war zones in Egypt, Turkey and Syria among other countries.

In 2012 he posted this video showing he had been targeted by Syrian jets outside Aleppo.

On his Twitter page, the University of Central Florida graduate describes himself as a “stand-up philosopher from Miami”.

While on-the-scene posts from riots in Egypt, protests in Turkey, and updates from Syria dominate his feed, the basketball fan also managed to find time to tweet about his team. His last post before his disappearance was about Miami Heat’s performance.

WILL HIS LIFE BE SPARED?

The horrific execution of James Foley has placed President Obama in a precarious position — tasked with balancing an aggressive policy to destroy ISIS against the life of another American citizen.

Despite the danger Mr Sotloff faces and threats from militants, Obama has refused to back down.

The President has described ISIS as a “cancer” threatening the entire region, and vowed to be “vigilant” and “relentless” in weeding them out.

“When people harm Americans anywhere, we do what’s necessary to see that justice is done” he said.

Defiant: US President Barack Obama has refused to give in to ISIS militants despite the prospect of another American being killed.
Defiant: US President Barack Obama has refused to give in to ISIS militants despite the prospect of another American being killed.

In recent days, the US military has launched 14 new air strikes in the area of the Mosul dam aimed at helping Iraqi and Kurdish forces protect the area from insurgents. He has also requested 300 more troops to be sent to Iraq to protect US facilities.

MORE: Obama reveals air strikes failed to recovery hostages

It comes as the White House revealed special forces had recently tried to rescue a number of American hostages held in Syria but the operation failed.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the hostages were not in the location they had expected.

GlobalPost President and CEO Philip Balboni said the White House was aware of the threat against James Foley, but no negotiations took place. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
GlobalPost President and CEO Philip Balboni said the White House was aware of the threat against James Foley, but no negotiations took place. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

It is not known whether ISIS have communicated with Sotloff’s family, but yesterday it emerged Mr Foley’s kidnappers had contacted his family and employer the GlobalPost saying they planned to kill him. The organisation’s CEO Phil Balboni said they had spent millions trying to find the captured journalist and knew of his final location before he died.

“There was one communication after the bombing began that went to the family that stated that Jim would be executed,” Mr Balboni told NBC.

He also said the White House was aware of the threat but no negotiations took place.

Diane and John Foley talk to reporters about their son James. Pic: AP.
Diane and John Foley talk to reporters about their son James. Pic: AP.

The death threat looming over the fellow American has sparked an outpouring of reaction on social media, with his own family reportedly logging a petition with Obama to take action immediately, The Telegraph reported.

The petition, which directly implores the President to spare his fate has so far garnered more than 5000 signatures with hopes of raising 100,000.

“Today, on August 19, 2014 it was revealed that Steven is a captive of the Islamist terrorist organisation ISIS,” the petition posted yesterday reads.

“Steven appeared at the end of a video in which reporter James Foley was beheaded. In the video, Steven is seen at the end declaring that he will be next.”

The petition also calls upon Obama to take immediate action to save his life by any means necessary.

The shocking execution of James Foley also prompted a plea from his own mother Diane for the kidnappers to release any other hostages to spare the fate given to her son.

“We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people,” the statement read on the Free James Foley page.

“We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.

James Foley pictured in Syria.
James Foley pictured in Syria.

“We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person. Please respect our privacy in the days ahead as we mourn and cherish Jim.”

Emerson Lotzia, a college friend of Sotloff’s told NBC Miami that everyone was scared for his outcome.

“No one really knows what to think of this situation, because we never really thought that we would ever have one of our friends in this situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, social media users have also spoken of the push to free the kidnapped journalist.

Many were talking about grossly unjust it was when all he was doing was good work.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/steven-sotloff-still-held-hostage-by-isis-militants-who-executed-james-foley/news-story/c1e0a793ca7d54519cbb20626ea21a29