The wife of a Spanish journalist kidnapped in Syria has made a video plea asking militants to release him and his colleague.
Reporter Javier Espinosa and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova, who were working for El Mundo newspaper, were seized by a rebel group linked to al Qaeda called the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Raqaa province” in September.
The kidnapping had not been made public until now because of negotiations with the rebels holding them.
Monica Preito, Espinosa’s wife and fellow journalist spoke directly to his captors at a news conference in Beirut.
“Javier and Ricardo travelled to Syria around ten times to witness war crimes, risking their own lives, sharing the Syrian people’s fear and sadness at the Humanitarian crisis. Javier and Ricardo are not your enemy. Please honor the revolution that they reported and released them. Thanks” Preito said.
The two men were traveling with members of the rebel Free Syrian Army when they were seized. Both are veteran journalists who have covered the Syrian conflict since its beginning
