PRESIDENT Joe Biden has repeated calls for the immediate release of an American journalist held captive in Syria - 12 years after harrowing footage detailed his treatment.
Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and former Marine Corps officer, was reporting on the Syrian civil war when he was abducted near Damascus in August 2012.
Shortly after his disappearance in 2012, a harrowing video emerged showing Tice blindfolded and held by unidentified armed men and being forced to recite a prayer in broken Arabic.
Both President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued statements on Wednesday - the 12th anniversary of Tice's abduction - reaffirming their commitment to bringing Tice home and calling on the Syrian government to cooperate in ending his captivity.
“We have repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home,” Biden said in his statement this week.
"The freedom of the press is essential, and journalists like Austin play a critical role in informing the public and holding those in power accountable," the president stated.
Tice had been contributing to major outlets such as The Washington Post, McClatchy Newspapers, CBS News, and the French outlet Agence France-Presse at the time of his capture.
According to his parents, Tice's reporting was driven by a deep sense of duty to uncover the truth of the conflict, and his dedication to journalism led him into one of the most dangerous regions in the world.
Despite the video and other evidence suggesting he is alive, the Syrian government has consistently denied holding him, complicating efforts to secure his release.
The US government, however, maintains that Tice is being held by Syria, and continues to press for his return.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed these sentiments, marking the 12 years of Tice's captivity as far too long and calling for the Syrian government to work with the United States to end this ordeal.
Blinken emphasized that the US government has been actively engaged in efforts to secure Tice's release, noting that dozens of Americans held hostage or unjustly detained around the world have been freed in recent years.
This includes the recent release of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in Russia for nearly 500 days.
"We’re not going to relent until we find a way to bring Austin’s unjust detention to an end," Blinken affirmed.
Over the years, Tice's family, supported by various advocacy groups, has tirelessly campaigned for his release.
His parents, Debra and Marc Tice, have been outspoken in their efforts to keep Austin’s plight in the public eye and to urge the US government to intensify its efforts to bring him home.
In one of the many open letters his parents have published in The Washington Post, two years after his abduction they wrote, "Austin, please know that we love and miss you more than words can say."
"God willing, you will be back to blow out the candles when you turn 34," the letter read.
Their advocacy has included direct appeals to the highest levels of government, including a meeting with President Biden in May 2022.
During this meeting, both parents reportedly urged the administration to pursue a diplomatic engagement with the Syrian government for Austin’s safe return, according to the Wall Street Journal.
We’re not going to relent until we find a way to bring Austin’s unjust detention to an end.
Antony Blinken
But despite the efforts of the US government and the Tice family, Austin’s whereabouts remain unknown, and his case remains unresolved.
However, the recent statements from President Biden and Secretary Blinken signal a continued commitment to finding a resolution.
"The Tice family deserves answers, and more importantly, they deserve to be swiftly reunited with Austin," Biden said in his statement.
"We stand with Austin’s many loved ones, and we will not rest until we bring Austin home," the president declared.
Evan Gershkovich is another American journalist who was captured and held against their will abroad after covering tense stories about the country's government.
In March 2023, Gershkovich was arrested in Russia by the Federal Security Service on charges of espionage for his coverage of the country, particularly during a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West.
Both Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal strongly denied the espionage claims.
His arrest is the first time an American journalist had been detained on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War.
The case drew significant media attention both in America and abroad, with many viewing it as a politically motivated act amid the broader context of strained US-Russia relations.
In July, Gershkovich was handed a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of the espionage charges
But after spending 491 days in Russian prison, President Joe Biden negotiated a deal with Russian President Vladir Putin in a prisoner exchange that brought Gershkovich home in August.
