An award-winning U.S. journalist was kidnapped in Iraq. Here’s what to know.
Award-winning American journalist Shelley Kittleson was kidnapped in Iraq on Tuesday, according to multiple news outlets, launching an investigation by the country’s foreign ministry.
A State Department official said the U.S. was aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, adding that Washington had previously issued a warning.
“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,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said on X. He did refer to Kittleson by name.
Here’s what we know about the international writer as the investigation into her recent kidnapping continues in Iraq.
Who is Shelly Kittleson?
Kittleson is an independent journalist based in the Middle East. Her work has been contributed to multiple publications over the last decade, including Al Majalla, Al-Monitor, ANSA, and RAI Radiotre, among other freelance work, according to her public LinkedIn account.
Kittleson’s biography on social media platform X says she’s an “award-winning journalist reporting from the Middle East and Afghanistan” for additional media companies not listed on her LinkedIn account, including Foreign Policy, BBC World Service, New Lines Magazine, and Politico.
Additionally, her biography for New Lines Magazine states that Kittleson mainly reports on “issues related to security, conflict, and post-conflict in the Middle East and its environs.” Kittleson started out reporting from Afghanistan and, in the years since, reported extensively from the ground in Syria and Iraq, the website said.
Kittleson won the coveted Italian journalism award Premio Caravella in 2017 for her warzone reporting, according to the Italian Institute for International Political Studies.
What happened to Shelly Kittleson?
Kittleson’s kidnapping in Iraq on March 31 triggered an intensive search that has led to the arrest of one person believed to be involved, USA TODAY previously reported.
Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement that a foreign journalist was abducted and said an immediate investigation was launched, tracking the kidnappers’ movements. Authorities located a car used by the kidnappers, which had overturned as the suspects fled from police.
“The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted woman, and to take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law,” the ministry said. “Investigations are still underway to fully uncover the circumstances of the incident, and further details will be provided later.”
Al-Monitor, where Kittleson was a contributor, issued a statement calling for her “safe and immediate release.” The statement added: “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.” Kittleson’s biography on Al-Monitor’s website describes her as “a journalist specializing in the Middle East and Afghanistan.”
Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA Today
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA Today. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on X @katecperez_.
This article originally appeared on USA Today
Reporting by Kate Perez, USA Today
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