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The American journalist and former marine disappeared while he was reporting in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus in Syria on 13 August 2012 read more
 "Biden calls for release of journalist Austin Tice as US marks 12 years of his abduction in Syria")
Marc and Debra Tice, the parents of Austin Tice, who is missing in Syria, speak during a press conference, at the Press Club, in Beirut, Lebanon, Dec. 4, 2018. File Image: AP
With just a few months remaining in office, US President Joe Biden called for the immediate release of American journalist Austin Tice who disappeared from Syria in 2012. The US authorities believe that Tice is being held by the Syrian government.
The American journalist and former marine disappeared while he was reporting in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus in Syria on 13 August 2012. “This week marks 12 long, terrible years since American Austin Tice was abducted in Syria,” the President said in a statement marking the 12th anniversary of Tice’s disappearance.
“We have repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home. Today, I once again call for his immediate release," he added.
The tragic fate of an award-winning journalist
At the time of his disappearance, Tice was working as a freelance journalist and photographer for a variety of news organizations including CBS, the Washington Post, and the McClatchy Company. In 2012, he was awarded the George Polk Award for war reporting for his work covering the civil war in Syria, along with journalist David Enders.
The US authorities have maintained that Tice was kidnapped and is being held by Syrian authorities. “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 POTUS said in the Wednesday statement.
“We stand in solidarity with Austin, his family, and all Americans wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad. I will continue to do everything possible to advocate for and pursue his release and support his loved ones until he is safely returned home," he added. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a separate statement on the matter and echoed similar sentiments.
Blinken maintained that the US government “know the Syrian government has held Austin, and we have repeatedly offered to find a way to bring him home”.
Austin Tice was taken captive 12 years ago. We call on the Syrian government to work with the United States to end Austin’s captivity and to provide an accounting for the fate of other Americans who went missing in Syria.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 14, 2024“We call on the Syrian government to work with the United States to end Austin’s captivity and to provide an accounting for the fate of other Americans who went missing in Syria. Austin went to Syria to show the world the truth of what was going on there,” he added. “We’re not going to relent until we find a way to bring Austin’s unjust detention to an end.”
Back in 2022, Biden maintained that the US government knew “with certainty” that Tice was being held by the Syrian government.
Syrian government denies Tice’s captivity
From the very beginning of the case, the Syrian government has denied the accusations hurled by the United States. The Syrian government denied that it “kidnapped or is holding any American citizen on its territories” and has called the accusations made by the US government ‘“baseless”.
It is pertinent to note that Biden’s remarks over the matter came just over a week after two senators – Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, and John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas – led a bipartisan effort and sent a letter requesting that the Biden administration “use all available means to secure Austin’s release”.
The demands for Austin’s release intensified following the historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West which led to the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
With inputs from agencies.
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English (US) ·