Steven Sotloff
Photo: EPA
Steven Sotloff's producer recounts horror of ISIS capture
Yosef Abobaker entered Syria with American-Israeli journalist Sotloff only to be kidnapped by ISIS militants 20 minutes after; 'I did my best to save him'.
The Islamic State (ISIS) has rampaged through Syria and much of Iraq and stories of atrocities committed by the militants are common, if often unconfirmed. The video-taped beheading of
American-Israel Steven Sofloff however, caught the attention of Western countries with much more urgency than any reports that had previously emerged.
In an interview with CNN published Tuesday, Sotloff's guide Yosef Abobaker, told the story of how the two were kidnapped by ISIS militants and how Abobaker was released and Sotloff was left to meet his fate.
"He was a nice man (with) a good heart," said Abobaker in broken English. "I just wish he can rest in peace now. I put a message on Facebook (to) tell his mother I am so sorry... I did my best to save him... My feeling is so sorry, like I lost my brother."
Abobaker had met Sotloff the year before their fateful journey into Syria and the two had been friends, inspiring Sotloff to meet his guide and producer with a camera as a gift for his birthday.
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After Sotloff's death was made public, Abobaker said that, "Nobody came to me to ask me any questions from the (US) government. And they can find me. It's easy. But, no, nobody tried to contact me."
Abobaker had fought himself in Syria's civil war with a moderate Islamic group. He also had 18 months experience as a producer for over 100 different journalists.
Sotloff, Abobaker, and members of his family who'd accompanied them for security, were abducted just twenty minutes after crossing the Syrian border from Turkey. Abubaker told CNN that at least one border guard had been paid by ISIS to inform the group when they crossed the border.
Yosef Abobaker
"We were four people and they were 15," said Abobaker. "We didn't have any chance to defend (ourselves)."
The producer said that his captures had accents from Morocco, Libya, and Algeria. He and Sotloff were first taken to Aleppo where they were forced to close their eyes.
"Sometimes I say they will kill us all because I work with people from the outside," Abobaker said. He never saw Sotloff again, but he could hear him being questioned.
"They ask me, do you know who we are, and I said, yes, I think you are ISIS," Abobaker told CNN. "And they said, yes, we should kill you. You are a spy and work with America and the CIA and the FBI."
American-Israeli Steven Sotloff. (Photo: Reuters)
Despite their threats, Abobaker said that after being held for 15 days, the militants released him and his family because of his past as a fighter in Syria. However, Abobaker's release came with a condition. "If we hear you work with journalist again, we will kill you for sure," they told him.
After securing his own freedom, Abobaker used his connections in Turkey and Syria to gather news about Sotloff, but gained mostly unconfirmed rumors. He heard that his journalist friend had been moved twice, finally reaching the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa before the news exploded online that Sotloff had been beheaded.
"I send a message to the world to say it's not really Islam," said Abobaker. "They are liars. I say that to all the people. They are not Mulsims."
