Murdered Journalist's Family Believes He Was Sold To ISIS
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The family of a South Florida journalist who was executed by ISIS believe he was sold to the group.
Steven Sotloff went missing in August 2013 while writing about the Syrian civil war as a freelance journalist for several publications.
"We can say Steven was sold at the (Syrian) border," family spokesman Barak Barfi told CNN's Anderson Cooper, "We believe that the so-called moderate rebels that people want our administration to support, one of them sold him for something between $25,000 and $50,000 to ISIS and that was one of the reasons he was captured."
Barfi said the family is basing this belief on information they received from sources on the ground. He also described the family's relationship with the Obama administration as strained.
Sotloff attended the University of Central Florida and later moved to Israel to study. He got a dual American-Israeli citizenship and secretly practiced Jewish religion in captivity.
While being held hostage, Sotloff's family had to conceal his connection to Israel and Judaism, erasing everything online that made mention of it.
Sotloff was the second American journalist executed by the Islamic extremist group.
Pope Francis has extended his condolences to Sotloff's family. The pontiff expressed his thoughts in a letter sent to the family from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
"His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of your son and brother, Steven Joel, and he has asked me to convey to you his prayerful condolences. He entrusts Steven's soul to the Lord and offers prayers for you and all who mourn his death. His Holiness urges people everywhere to reject violence, aggression and lack of compassion, and asks each one to pray and work for forgiveness, healing and peace. Upon you and your loved ones, he invokes the Almighty's blessings of consolation and strength."
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and several other senators have introduced a bill authorizing a much as $10 million in reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals involved in the kidnappings and murders.
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