John Cantlie: Ten years since IS kidnap of British journalist in Syria

Today marks 10 years since British photojournalist John Cantlie was kidnapped by Islamic State militants successful Syria.

He is thought to beryllium the lone overseas hostage held by them who was neither released nor murdered connected camera.

Cantlie outlived different British hostages and appeared successful the group's propaganda videos, though his destiny is unknown.

He is presumed dormant but his assemblage has ne'er been found, and his household precocious held a ceremonial for him.

In a quaint Norman religion successful a quiescent Hampshire village, immoderate of John Cantlie's favourite stone songs were played successful beforehand of his household and friends who had gathered to retrieve the antheral who disappeared.

Cantlie was a motorbike enthusiast, adventurer and storyteller - but supra all, a passionate photojournalist.

In 2012, aft moving successful immoderate of the wilder regions of the world, including Afghanistan and the Himalayas, helium went to Syria to papers the processing civilian warfare there.

In July of that twelvemonth helium was kidnapped on with a Dutch photographer, and got changeable portion trying to flight earlier different militant radical intervened and secured their release. John returned to Britain but then, against the proposal of some, went backmost to Syria to proceed his work.

"John knew the dangers of repeatedly going into Syria to papers the atrocities President Assad was carrying retired connected the Syrian people," his sister Jessica told me. "I respected his determination to spell backmost and understood wherefore helium felt helium had to go."

For John, it was a fatal decision.

On 22 November 2012, soon aft crossing the porous borderline from Turkey into Syria, helium was abducted by gunmen astatine a checkpoint on with the American writer James Foley. They had fallen into the hands of alleged Islamic State (IS).

Over consequent years helium was held successful appalling conditions, fed starvation rations, brutalised and tortured on with US and European hostages.

The Europeans were released 1 by one, reportedly for immense ransoms, portion each the different Britons and Americans were murdered connected camera.

Two of their worst tormentors were British jihadists from westbound London: El Shafee El Sheikh and Alexander Kotay. They person some been convicted successful a US tribunal and sentenced to beingness successful prison.

"I volition ever beryllium peculiarly proud," says his sister, "by proceeding of John's leadership, steadfast enactment and kindness towards each the other, mostly younger men helium was held hostage with. [He was 42 erstwhile kidnapped]. They were kept successful circumstances truthful unspeakable we cannot statesman to imagine. He was a bully and decent man."

Controversially, Cantlie survived for years by becoming a captive spokesman, penning and voicing the propaganda reports that IS wanted to hear. He appeared successful 14 of their videos, initially dressed successful an orangish jumpsuit.

He told different hostages helium was doing it against his will, adjacent telling 1 who was going location helium wanted the past conjugation authorities to weaponry their situation to extremity his torment.

He was past seen successful December 2016 successful Mosul, and since his assemblage has ne'er been recovered it is thought astir apt helium perished successful the monolithic US-led conjugation bombing of that city, wherever IS were entrenched.

"John is profoundly missed and mourned," said his sister Jessica. "But his indomitable tone is inactive with america successful immoderate alternatively fantastic way."