During its control over parts of Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) abducted numerous journalists and photojournalists. Many were subjected to torture, and some were executed upon capture, while others remain missing to this day.

War Crimes Against Journalists

Human rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Amnesty International, have classified the targeted killing and enforced disappearance of journalists as war crimes.

Below is a list of some of the most prominent journalists targeted by ISIS:

• James Foley (American) — Abducted in Syria: 2012
  • Killed: 2014
• Steven Sotloff (American) — Abducted in Syria: 2013
  • Killed: 2014
• Kamaran Najm (Kurdish) — Missing since 2014
• Raad Mohamed al-Azzawi (Iraqi) — Killed in Samarra: 2014
• Mohanad al-Agidi (Iraqi) — Killed in Mosul: 2014
• Naji Jerf (Syrian) — Killed in 2015
• John Cantlie (British) — Missing since 2016
• Shifa Gardi (Kurdish) — Killed in Mosul: 2017
• Yahya Abdul-Hamid (Iraqi) — Killed in Iraq: 2015
• Ibrahim Abdul-Qader (Syrian) — Killed in 2015
• Fares Hammadi (Syrian) — Killed in 2015