Marquette hosting vigil for alumnus James Foley, captured in Syria

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A vigil is planned for Friday, April 5th for missing Marquette University alumnus James Foley. Foley was captured in Syria in November -- when he was working as a freelance journalist. This is the second time Foley has been held captive overseas since 2011.

Freelancer James Foley was taken in northwest Syria on November 22, Thanksgiving Day in America, his family said, adding they decided to make his capture public now in the hope that media attention will increase the odds he'll be released unharmed.

"We want Jim to come safely home, or at least we need to speak with him to know he's OK," said the journalist's father, John Foley. "Jim is an objective journalist and we appeal for the release of Jim unharmed. To the people who have Jim, please contact us so we can work together toward his release."

A Facebook page and a Twitter account have been created for anyone to post messages about Foley.

This isn't the first time Foley has been abducted. He was taken along with others in Libya in 2011. He and three other journalists were released by the Libyan military in May 2011.

Foley worked for GlobalPost at the time. The news outlet ran a story on its website Wednesday about Foley's abduction in Syria.

Foley communicated with his sister online, via Skype, on Thanksgiving morning, his brother, Michael Foley, told CNN. The journalist didn't suggest that he felt he was in any danger during that conversation, he said.

James Foley was working on several stories when he was abducted, including one "on the destruction of the ancient city of Aleppo," said his brother, Michael Foley. He added that the family has been working closely with government agencies as well as people in Turkey and Syria.

"Anyone and everyone," the brother said. "One of the reasons we have put the story out there is because we are seeking additional information. The message we want to give is James is an innocent and unbiased journalist and we appeal that he be released unharmed."

Foley's website says he has "reported independently and objectively from the Middle East for the past five years."

The Foley family has tried over the years to get used to their relative's choice to be a war correspondent.

"It's been an adjustment. It's been something we have been getting around," Michael Foley said. "We have never tried to talk him out of it because he is so passionate about it and he truly wants to shed light on conflict."

The journalist has taken security training for conflict zones and is "very cautious in what he does," Michael Foley said.

When his brother was released in Libya, Michael Foley flew to Libya to see him. "It was an emotional high you cannot describe," he said.

The global news agency AFP, which has been using Foley's work since March 2012, released a statement saying that Foley was taken in the northern town of Taftanaz and that no one has claimed responsibility.

"After respecting his family's initial decision to remain silent about the abduction, AFP now fully supports its choice in making the news public and wholeheartedly calls for the journalist's release," said AFP CEO Emmanuel Hoog. "We remain in constant contact with the journalist's family and friends. In addition, we are multiplying contacts and taking every measure in our power to facilitate his release."

"James is a professional journalist who has remained totally neutral in this conflict. His captors, whoever they may be, must release him immediately," he added in a written statement.

Foley is familiar with war zones, Hoog said, and the journalist's work "has considerably enriched coverage of the Syrian conflict."

Foley had contributed about 30 video reports from Syria.

Before he became a journalist, Foley's website says, he "helped empower disadvantaged individuals as a teacher and mentor, assisting them in improving their lives."