Family calls for news of reporter missing in Syria
There has been no infomation about Bashar Kadumi since he was captured by regime forces in Aleppo two years ago
ISTANBUL
Demonstrators gathered outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday to highlight the plight of journalist Bashar Kadumi, who has been missing for two years.
Palestinian-Jordanian Kadumi was arrested by Syrian government forces in Aleppo along with a Turkish colleague who was released after 87 days.
His wife Arzu, who was joined at the consulate by her son Anas and daughter Zahra, said: "Our children have suffered deprivation and there is no way to explain his loss. The only thing we know after two years is that Bashar Kadumi, the journalist, remains missing.”
Her husband, whose full name is Bashar Fahmi al-Kadumi, was working for the U.S. al-Hurra TV news station when he was arrested during fighting between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and rebels.
Turkish journalist Cuneyt Unal, who also worked for al-Hurra, was released after 87 days following negotiations between Turkey and the regime. After his release, Unal said Kadumi, who was 41 when he was seized, had been shot during his capture but there has been no further word on his whereabouts or well-being.
Speaking outside the locked consulate, Arzu added: “The Syrian regime has refused to answer our requests for information about my husband, repeatedly saying ‘We have no record of Bashar Kadumi in our files.’ Ultimately, the regime of Bashar al-Assad is responsible.”
The demonstration came a day after distribution of a video showing U.S. journalist James Foley being murdered by an Islamic State militant. He was seized in Syria in December 2012.
Recep Yasar, of the Turkish Journalists’ Association, said: “As colleagues and professionals, we want to know about his condition as we are naturally concerned.
“Kadumi disappeared in Syria while working as a journalist and his disappearance is the responsibility of the Syrian regime… We cannot allow someone to just go missing for two years.”
In November 2012, British doctor Abbas Khan was arrested by the Syrian government and held for 13 months. He was found hanging in his cell days before he was due to be released.
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