Austin has been held captive in Syria for 4686 days 9 hours 30 minutes 41 seconds

BAKER PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP: AUSTIN BENNETT TICE

Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy honors Austin Tice for his courage and service in reporting on Syria’s violent and tragic civil war. His outstanding work exemplifies the values of the James A. Baker III Prize for Excellence in Leadership. This event marks the eighth time the award has been conferred in the Baker Institute’s 28-year history.

Who is Austin Tice? Family of captured Houston journalist to visit White House on Friday

By Caroline Wilburn, Houston Chronicle Staff writer
Family members of Americans held hostage abroad gluing wheat paste mural of the hostages for the Bring Our Families Home Campaign on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Houston. Six of the 15 hostages in the campaign are from Texas, including Zack Shahin, from right, journalist Austin Tice, Mark Swidan and Jerrel Kenemore.
Family members of Americans held hostage abroad gluing wheat paste mural of the hostages for the Bring Our Families Home Campaign on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Houston. Six of the 15 hostages in the campaign are from Texas, including Zack Shahin, from right, journalist Austin Tice, Mark Swidan and Jerrel Kenemore.Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The parents of Austin Tice, a Houston journalist who went missing in Syria over a decade ago, will return to Washington this week as part of a continued push to bring their son home.

Tice’s brothers and sisters will join his parents for a meeting at the White House on Friday, marking the first time his entire family has visited Washington to advocate for his release. Following the meeting, the family will host a news conference at the National Press Club to discuss the White House meeting and the status of Tice’s situation.

As his imprisonment extends over 12 years, Tice is the longest-held journalist in captivity, according to the National Press Club.

Here’s what to know about Tice and the efforts to bring him home.

Who is Austin Tice?

Tice is a Houston native who went missing 12 years ago in Syria while covering the country’s ongoing civil war as a freelance journalist for the Washington Post, McClatchy News and other publications.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Tice is a veteran Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and has won numerous awards for his reporting, including the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting, according to a website created by his family.

U.S. officials believe Tice is being held by the Syrian government and have made continued efforts to negotiate his homecoming.

Where was Austin Tice captured?

Shortly after leaving the Damascus, Syria, suburb of Darayya on his way to Lebanon, Tice was detained at a checkpoint, according to his family.

A little over a month after his capture, a 43-second video featuring Tice with a group of armed men was sent to his family with the title “Austin Tice is Alive.”

Since the video was sent to them, Tice’s family said they have received no additional information regarding who is responsible for his capture, but along with the U.S. government, still believe he is alive.

What has the U.S. government done to push for Austin Tice’s release?

Four years after Tice was captured, former President Barack Obama met with his parents shortly before leaving office.

Four years after that, President Donald Trump released a statement on Aug. 14, 2020, the eight-year anniversary of Tice’s capture, calling for his release from Syria.

“There is no higher priority in my Administration than the recovery and return of Americans missing abroad,” Trump’s statement reads. “The Tice family deserves answers. We stand with the Tice family and will not rest until we bring Austin home.”

In a statement months later, Tice’s family thanked Trump for his ongoing dedication to bringing him home.

“His efforts for our son are unmatched and his support and commitment mean the world to us,” the statement reads. “The President has our deepest appreciation.”

President Joe Biden organized a meeting with Tice’s family in May 2022 after his mother was introduced at the White House correspondents’ dinner that year. Biden’s Administration officials met with Tice’s family several times during his time in office.

“President Biden made significant, encouraging commitments for this effort,” Tice’s family wrote in a statement after the meeting.

This is Austin Tice

Austin is an award winning journalist, the recipient of the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting, the 2012 McClatchy Newspapers President’s Award, the 2015 National Press Club John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Centennial Honor, and the James A. Baker III Prize for Excellence in Leadership. He is a veteran Captain in the United States Marine Corps, graduate of Georgetown University, National Merit Finalist and an Eagle Scout.

The United States Government is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading directly to Austins’ safe location, recovery, and return. If you have any information concerning Austin, please contact the FBI Tip Line at tips.fbi.gov or findaustintice@fbi.gov. You can also contact your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

Austin’s Captivity

In May of 2012, the summer before Austin’s final year at Georgetown Law School, he chose to go to Syria as a freelance journalist.  Austin went to tell the story of the ongoing conflict there and its impact on the ordinary people of Syria.

In August 2012, Austin made his way just south of Damascus to write his final pieces.  He planned to depart for Lebanon on August 14, three days after his 31st birthday.  He got into a car in the Damascus suburb of Darayya to make the trip, but shortly after leaving was detained at a check point.

Five weeks later, a 43-second video emerged with the title, “Austin Tice is Alive”.  It showed Austin being held by a group of unidentified armed men.  No other message accompanied the video.  This is the only information we have received from his captors.  No one has contacted us to claim responsibility, nor have we been told what is required to secure his safe release. Most importantly we, the United States government, and other credible sources believe Austin is alive. We also believe the Syrian government is best able to assist with Austin’s safe return.

Our plea is simple:  We ask the governments of the Syrian Arab Republic and the United States to directly engage with each other in diplomatic efforts until Austin is safely home.

Contact Us

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support of Austin and our family.  It is these things, along with the dedicated work of many, many people, which are sustaining us and which will, by the will of God, bring Austin safely home to us.

We ask everyone who can to contact officials and representatives of the United States or Syrian governments, and tell them it is important to you that Austin comes safely home.

If you have any information regarding Austin’s circumstances or well-being, please contact us!

Who is Austin Tice? Family of captured Houston journalist to visit White House on Friday

By Caroline Wilburn, Houston Chronicle Staff writer
Family members of Americans held hostage abroad gluing wheat paste mural of the hostages for the Bring Our Families Home Campaign on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Houston. Six of the 15 hostages in the campaign are from Texas, including Zack Shahin, from right, journalist Austin Tice, Mark Swidan and Jerrel Kenemore.
Family members of Americans held hostage abroad gluing wheat paste mural of the hostages for the Bring Our Families Home Campaign on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Houston. Six of the 15 hostages in the campaign are from Texas, including Zack Shahin, from right, journalist Austin Tice, Mark Swidan and Jerrel Kenemore.Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The parents of Austin Tice, a Houston journalist who went missing in Syria over a decade ago, will return to Washington this week as part of a continued push to bring their son home.

Tice’s brothers and sisters will join his parents for a meeting at the White House on Friday, marking the first time his entire family has visited Washington to advocate for his release. Following the meeting, the family will host a news conference at the National Press Club to discuss the White House meeting and the status of Tice’s situation.

As his imprisonment extends over 12 years, Tice is the longest-held journalist in captivity, according to the National Press Club.

Here’s what to know about Tice and the efforts to bring him home.

Who is Austin Tice?

Tice is a Houston native who went missing 12 years ago in Syria while covering the country’s ongoing civil war as a freelance journalist for the Washington Post, McClatchy News and other publications.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Tice is a veteran Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and has won numerous awards for his reporting, including the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting, according to a website created by his family.

U.S. officials believe Tice is being held by the Syrian government and have made continued efforts to negotiate his homecoming.

Where was Austin Tice captured?

Shortly after leaving the Damascus, Syria, suburb of Darayya on his way to Lebanon, Tice was detained at a checkpoint, according to his family.

A little over a month after his capture, a 43-second video featuring Tice with a group of armed men was sent to his family with the title “Austin Tice is Alive.”

Since the video was sent to them, Tice’s family said they have received no additional information regarding who is responsible for his capture, but along with the U.S. government, still believe he is alive.

What has the U.S. government done to push for Austin Tice’s release?

Four years after Tice was captured, former President Barack Obama met with his parents shortly before leaving office.

Four years after that, President Donald Trump released a statement on Aug. 14, 2020, the eight-year anniversary of Tice’s capture, calling for his release from Syria.

“There is no higher priority in my Administration than the recovery and return of Americans missing abroad,” Trump’s statement reads. “The Tice family deserves answers. We stand with the Tice family and will not rest until we bring Austin home.”

In a statement months later, Tice’s family thanked Trump for his ongoing dedication to bringing him home.

“His efforts for our son are unmatched and his support and commitment mean the world to us,” the statement reads. “The President has our deepest appreciation.”

President Joe Biden organized a meeting with Tice’s family in May 2022 after his mother was introduced at the White House correspondents’ dinner that year. Biden’s Administration officials met with Tice’s family several times during his time in office.

“President Biden made significant, encouraging commitments for this effort,” Tice’s family wrote in a statement after the meeting.


Austin has been held captive in Syria for 4686 days 9 hours 30 minutes 41 seconds
This is Austin Tice

Austin is an award winning journalist, the recipient of the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting, the 2012 McClatchy Newspapers President’s Award, and the 2015 National Press Club John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award. He is a veteran Captain in the United States Marine Corps, graduate of Georgetown University, National Merit Finalist and an Eagle Scout.

The United States Government is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading directly to Austins’ safe location, recovery, and return. If you have any information concerning Austin, please contact the FBI Tip Line at tips.fbi.gov or findaustintice@fbi.gov. You can also contact your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

Austin’s Captivity

In May of 2012, the summer before Austin’s final year at Georgetown Law School, he chose to go to Syria as a freelance journalist.  Austin went to tell the story of the ongoing conflict there and its impact on the ordinary people of Syria.

In August 2012, Austin made his way just south of Damascus to write his final pieces.  He planned to depart for Lebanon on August 14, three days after his 31st birthday.  He got into a car in the Damascus suburb of Darayya to make the trip, but shortly after leaving was detained at a check point.

Five weeks later, a 43-second video emerged with the title, “Austin Tice is Alive”.  It showed Austin being held by a group of unidentified armed men.  No other message accompanied the video.  This is the only information we have received from his captors.  No one has contacted us to claim responsibility, nor have we been told what is required to secure his safe release. Most importantly we, the United States government, and other credible sources believe Austin is alive. We also believe the Syrian government is best able to assist with Austin’s safe return.

Our plea is simple:  We ask the governments of the Syrian Arab Republic and the United States to directly engage with each other in diplomatic efforts until Austin is safely home.

Contact Us

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support of Austin and our family.  It is these things, along with the dedicated work of many, many people, which are sustaining us and which will, by the will of God, bring Austin safely home to us.

We ask everyone who can to contact officials and representatives of the United States or Syrian governments, and tell them it is important to you that Austin comes safely home.

If you have any information regarding Austin’s circumstances or well-being, please contact us!