American Hostage’s Mother Begs ISIS Leader to Release her Son (Video)

The mother of an American hostage, Steven Sotloff, being held by the Islamic State in Iraq and 

Syria has released an emotional, heartbreaking plea video to his captors.

Shirley Sotloff, the mother of the 31-year-old freelance journalist Steven J. Sotloff, addressed 

her plea directly to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS and the self-declared caliph of the Muslim
world. Ms. Sotloff addresses Mr. Baghdadi as caliph and calls on him to exercise his right to show 

clemency and follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad as previous caliphs did.

“I am sending this message to you, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Quraishi al-Hussaini, the caliph

of the Islamic State. I am Shirley Sotloff. My son Steven is in your hands,” she begins. “You, 

the caliph, can grant amnesty. I ask you please to release my child,” she continues. “I 

ask you to use your authority to spare his life.”