Steven Sotloff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steven Sotloff
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Steven Joel Sotloff
May 11, 1983 |
| Disappeared | August 4, 2013 Aleppo, Syria |
| Died | c. September 2, 2014 (aged 31) |
| Citizenship | United States Israel |
| Alma mater | Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | Time |
Steven Joel Sotloff (Hebrew: סטיבן סוטלוף; May 11, 1983 – c. September 2, 2014) was an American and Israeli journalist. In August 2013, he was taken hostage in Aleppo, Syria. A group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) held him captive.
After Steven's death, U.S. President Barack Obama said that the United States would act. They would work to "weaken and destroy" ISIS.
President Obama also signed an important order in 2015. This order changed how the U.S. helps Americans taken hostage in other countries.
Steven Sotloff is remembered for many things. He was the first to report on the Benghazi attack to CNN. He also saw the start of the huge Syrian Refugee Crisis. He reported on the struggles of everyday people in Syria. This earned him the name "The Voice for the Voiceless."
Contents
Early Life and Education
Steven Sotloff was born to Jewish parents, Arthur and Shirley Sotloff. They lived in Pinecrest, Florida, near Miami. His grandparents were survivors of The Holocaust. Their experiences inspired him to speak up for those who could not.
Steven went to Rumsey Hall School and Kimball Union Academy. He later studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. From 2005 to 2008, he studied in Israel. He graduated with honors from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. He studied government and how to fight terrorism there.
Steven moved to Israel after a Birthright trip. He loved the country and became a citizen of both the United States and Israel. He kept his Jewish background and Israeli citizenship private while working in Muslim countries. This was to keep himself safe. Steven was very interested in the Middle East and its culture. He even went to Yemen to learn Arabic.
Steven's Journalism Career
Steven's work as a journalist began during the Arab Spring. This was a time of big changes in the Middle East. He worked for well-known news organizations. These included Time, The Christian Science Monitor, and Foreign Policy. He also appeared on CNN and Fox News.
His job took him to many countries. He reported from Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Libya, and Bahrain.
Steven was the first reporter to share important details about the 2012 Benghazi attack. He told CNN that there was no protest that caused the attack. This was different from what U.S. media first reported. CNN called his detailed story "an excellent piece of journalism."
In 2012, he wrote for Time magazine. He reported that Al-Qaeda fighters from Libya were going to Syria. They were sending weapons to help fight against Bashar al-Assad's government. He also visited the place in Benghazi where the U.S. ambassador was killed. He interviewed security guards who were there during the attack.
Steven's reporting in Syria focused on the daily lives of people. Their suffering led to the huge Syrian Refugee Crisis. Because of this, Time, The Daily Telegraph, and NBC News called him "The Voice for the Voiceless." People who knew him said he was a kind person. He wanted to report on the human side of conflicts in the Middle East.
Kidnapping and Passing
On August 4, 2013, Steven Sotloff was taken hostage near Aleppo, Syria. He had just crossed the border from Turkey. He was with a local helper and the helper's family. The helper and his family were released 15 days later. Steven was believed to have been held in Raqqa.
Steven's family kept his kidnapping a secret for a year. They feared he would be harmed if the news became public. His family and government groups worked privately to try and get him released.
On August 19, 2014, a group called The Islamic State (IS) released a video. It was called "A Message to America." At the end of the video, ISIS threatened U.S. President Barack Obama. They said his next actions would decide Steven's fate.
Days after this threat, the U.S. increased its airstrikes against IS. They fired missiles at ISIS vehicles near the Mosul Dam.
Many people signed a petition asking President Obama to save Steven. On August 27, 2014, Steven's mother released a video. She asked the Islamic State leader to release her son.
On September 2, 2014, a video titled "A Second Message to America" was found. It showed that Steven Sotloff had passed away.
Tributes and Honors
After Steven's death, many people around the world honored him. Tributes came from the Vatican, Pope Francis, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. senators also sent their respects.
The U.S. Congress remembered him in the Congressional Record. The Architect of the Capitol gave his family a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol. The New York Times created a special online guest book for him. American musician Dave Matthews and his band planted 120 trees in Israel in Steven's memory. Dave Matthews also dedicated his song "Mercy" to Steven.
Steven received many awards and honors, both during his life and after. These awards recognized his bravery and dedication to journalism.
- The ADL Daniel Pearl Award: This award is for journalists who build bridges between cultures. It honors those who try to understand different parts of the world. Steven was recognized for finding "the humanity behind the headlines."
- The Radio Television Digital News Foundation (RTDNF)'s Citation of Courage Award: This award was given to Steven Sotloff and James Foley. It recognized their outstanding service to journalism. It honored their courage in facing danger to find the truth.
- The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)'s Conscience-in-Media Award: This award is for journalists who show great commitment to their profession. It recognizes those who face personal costs while seeking the truth.
- The Foundation for Defense of Democracies Tribute: This tribute honors those who believe in basic human rights. It supports freedom of religion, speech, and assembly.
- The Southeastern Association of Journalists's Turkey's Special Prize of the Jury: This award is given to successful journalists each year.
- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Florida Heroes Award: This award was given by CNN's Larry King. It recognized Steven's courage, kindness, and determination in fighting hate.
Memorials
The Steven Sotloff Art Memorial was created by artist Tracy Ellyn. It first opened publicly after President Barack Obama honored Steven at a White House dinner. One memorial is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It looks out over the Atlantic Ocean, facing the Middle East. Another is at Temple Beth Am in Miami, Florida, where Steven and his family were members.
The memorial includes words from a letter Steven sent to his family while he was held captive. He wrote: "Do what makes you happy. Be where you are happy. Love and respect each other. Don't fight over nonsense. Hug each other every day. Eat dinner together. Live your life to the fullest and pray to be happy. Stay positive and patient. Everyone has two lives; the 2nd one begins when you realize you have only one."
Another memorial is the Steven Sotloff Memorial Garden. It is a public place in Pinecrest, Florida. Steven's family and others can visit to remember him. The Miami Foundation and Home Depot helped create it.
The 2LIVES Foundation
After Steven's passing, the Steven Joel Sotloff Memorial 2LIVES Foundation was created. Its name comes from his powerful words in his letter: "Everyone has two lives; the 2nd one begins when you realize you have only one."
The foundation's goal is to help journalists. It wants to give them the knowledge and tools to report important stories safely. It supports freedom of speech and the press. It also works to bring journalists home safely from dangerous places.
The 2LIVES Foundation has partnered with many organizations. These include the United Nations/UNESCO, Columbia University School of Journalism, Reuters, and Associated Press. They worked together to create Global Safety Principles and Practices for journalists. These principles help share security information and provide safety training.
The foundation also worked with the U.S. government. They pushed for changes to laws about U.S. hostages. In 2015, President Obama signed an order. This order changed how the U.S. handles Americans taken hostage abroad.
The foundation also provides scholarships for journalism students. These scholarships help students around the world who want to become journalists. Scholarships have been set up in Steven's name at Kimball Union Academy, University of Central Florida, and University of Miami.
The 2LIVES Foundation has also partnered with The Media Line. They created a program to help journalism students. This program allows students to learn and develop their skills. They work with experienced journalists in the Middle East, a region that interested Steven so much.
