An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi authorities said Tuesday.
The journalist, identified as Shelly Kittleson by outlets for which she has written, has reported extensively from the Middle East as a freelance contributor to Al-Monitor, Foreign Policy, Politico and the BBC. She is based in Rome but travels frequently in the region.
“We are deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday,” Al-Monitor said in a statement Tuesday. “We call for her safe and immediate release. We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.” While a frequent contributor, Kittleson was not on assignment for the publication at the time of her abduction.
The State Department is “aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad,” said Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said security forces had arrested one suspect and seized a vehicle used in the crime and was tracking alleged accomplices in hopes of recovering Kittleson.
Alex Plitsas, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, identified himself as Kittleson’s “designated U.S. point of contact” and said the U.S. government had “acted immediately” and was “working very hard across multiple agencies and departments” on her behalf.
Johnson said the State Department “previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible.” He said a suspect “with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.” He further cautioned that the department urges Americans, including journalists, against traveling to Iraq.
Media freedom advocates expressed their concern for Kittleson’s well-being.
The Committee to Protect Journalists “calls on Iraqi authorities to do everything in their power to locate Shelley Kittleson, ensure her immediate and safe release, and hold those responsible to account,” said Sara Qudah, the organization’s director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Her courageous reportage has covered conflict zones across the Middle East,” the International Women’s Media Foundation wrote. “She is a legitimate journalist simply doing her job to bring truth to the global public.”
“The reported abduction of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad is alarming and unacceptable,” the National Press Club said. “Journalists are not targets and treating them as such is an assault on press freedom everywhere.”
Suzy Haidamous and Adam Taylor contributed to this report.
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