It has taken 2 years and 3 months but finally, Gift of the Givers has received proof of life for journalist Shiraaz Mahomed, who was abducted on 10 January 2017 in the vicinity of Gift of the Givers Ar Rahma Hospital in Darkoush, Syria.

1. Proof of Life Video Received for Shiraaz Mahomed
It has taken 2 years and 3 months but finally, Gift of the Givers has received proof of life for journalist
Shiraaz Mahomed, who was abducted on 10 January 2017 in the vicinity of Gift of the Givers Ar Rahma
Hospital in Darkoush, Syria. A photojournalist, with a passion to document the hardships of communities
in distress, he wanted to narrate the tragedy of the Syrian people to the world through pictures. Shiraaz
has been accused of being a foreign spy, a disingenuous way to justify the captivity of an innocent man.
On 8 January 2018, the first proof of life was received in the form of answers to ten very personal
questions which only Shiraaz could answer. The answers were accurate and Shiraaz's family had no
doubt that it was from him. It has been a very difficult period engaging large networks of people to trace
Shiraaz's whereabouts. The proof of life video, made on 13 April 2019, arrived by WhatsApp at 10pm on
26 April. Shiraaz's family was very emotional, ecstatic, full of hope and grateful to the Almighty. They
knew for certain that Shiraaz was alive.
An important event on 12 April led to us successfully receiving this all important video. Valuable
information has been assimilated over his period of captivity. The video presents significant information.
We can't explain details for now as many lives would be in danger.