On anniversary of kidnapping, his foundation renews vow to bring hostages home

Diane and John Foley, parents of James Foley, share a private moment during the 2021 unveiling of a portrait of their son that adorns the wall near the entrance of the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center.(Rochester Voice filephoto)

WASHINGTON - Twelve years ago on Thanksgiving, American freelance journalist, James W. Foley was kidnapped by jihadist forces while reporting from Syria and held hostage for two years before being publicly beheaded. The Foley Foundation, established to advance Jim's legacy, advocates for the freedom of American hostages and wrongful detainees held abroad and promotes journalist safety.

As President-elect Trump prepares to assume office in January, the foundation is hopeful that his incoming administration will expand upon its commitment, as evidenced in his first term, to bring home Americans unjustly held captive abroad while also working to prevent future hostage-taking.

The founation on Friday also commended the Biden administration for its outstanding work in freeing scores of Americans held captive abroad including orchestrating a complex seven-nation prisoner swap in August that secured the release from Russia of three American citizens and one legal permanent resident.

Founder and president of the Foundation, Diane Foley, of Rochester, N.H., said "Freedom for more than 130 fellow Americans taken hostage or wrongfully detained abroad following fundamental U.S. policy reforms in 2015 is an example of James W. Foley's legacy of moral courage."

The Foley Foundation publishes research on the U.S. government's effectiveness in returning U.S. nationals taken hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The safety education curriculum it has developed for journalism students is used widely by instructors in U.S. universities.

About the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Conflict journalist James W. Foley was taken hostage by ISIS terrorists in 2012 while covering the Syrian civil war. Foley's captors tortured and ultimately brutally murdered him in 2014. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation was established within weeks of his death. The mission of the foundation - inspired by the moral courage of James Foley - is to secure the freedom of Americans held captive abroad, prevent future hostage taking, and promote journalist safety.

For more information or to learn how you can make an impact, please visit jamesfoleyfoundation.org or contact us here.