The mother of an American journalist who is being held by Islamic State (Isis) militants made a plea for her son’s safe return to the group’s leader on Wednesday.

“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 said in a video posted on The New York Times website. “You, the caliph, can grant amnesty. I ask you please to release my child. I ask you to use your authority to spare his life.”



Referring to Baghdadi as the caliph could likely be seen as controversial, as it suggests the group is gaining legitimacy.

“As a mother, I ask your justice to be merciful and not punish my son for matters he has no control over. I ask you to use your authority to spare his life and to follow the example set by the Prophet Muhammad, who protected People of the Book. I want what every mother wants, to live to see her children’s children, I plead with you to grant me this.”



Shirley Sotloff had requested a media blackout after her son’s capture because Isis told her they would kill him otherwise. Isis broke the blackout last week in a video depicting the beheading of James Foley, an American journalist who was captured in Syria in 2012. A masked man in that video threatens to kill Sotloff next if Isis’ demands are not met.



“Steven is a journalist who traveled to the Middle East to cover the suffering of Muslims at the hands of tyrants,” Sotloff said. “Steven is a loyal and generous son, brother and grandson. He’s an honorable man and has always tried to help the weak. We have not seen Steven in over a year.”

A 26-year-old aid worker is the third known American being held hostage by the group. Her family said on Tuesday that she was captured last year while working in Syria, but they are keeping her identity secret out of concerns for her safety.

American journalist Austin Tice went missing from Syria in August 2012 and is believed to be held by Isis rival al-Nusra Front, according to the Associated Press. Nusra released American journalist Peter Curtis this week after holding him hostage for 22 months, his family said. He returned to the United States on Tuesday.