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 "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," Sotloff said in
the video, obtained by the New York Times.
"I ask you to use your authority to spare his life and to follow the
example set by the Prophet Mohammed, who protected people of The
Book (Christians and Jews)," she said. She added that her son is an
"honorable man and has always tried to help the weak."
Sotloff, 31, went missing in Syria last year while covering the
conflict there. Islamic State released of video last week in which
he could be seen kneeling following the filmed decapitation of
fellow journalist James Foley.
 Islamic State, which has declared a caliphate in territory it has
captured in Syria and Iraq, threatened to kill Sotloff if its
demands, which include halting American air strikes against the
group, are not met.
"As a mother I ask your justice to be merciful and not to punish my
son for matters he has no control over," she said. "I want what
every mother wants: to live to see her children's children. I plead
with you to grant me this."
Another American writer, Peter Theo Curtis, was released on Sunday
after two years held captive by another militant group operating in
Syria, the Nusra Front. He said on Wednesday he was emotionally
overwhelmed by his welcome home.
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The terms of Curtis's release, brokered in part by Qatar, have not
been disclosed.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing on
Wednesday that "we certainly would call on those who are holding
(Sotloff) to release him." He reiterated that the United States does
not pay ransom to release hostages, however, saying it puts other
innocent Americans at risk.
(Reporting by Richard Valdmanis and Susan Heavey; Editing by Andre
Grenon and Sonya Hepinstall)
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