War Photographer Kidnapped in Syria Tells All in New Book

Photographer Jonathan Alpeyrie was in Syria in 2013 when he was kidnapped while moving towards the front lines. As a photojournalist, Alpeyrie had covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Egypt, and more, and it was his third trip to Syria. Alpeyrie was held for 81 days. His new book, The Shattered Lens: A War Photographer’s True Story of Captivity and Survival in Syria, details the ordeal.

The photographer sat down with CBS This Morning to discuss the experience and his escape. He told CBS that he decided to go through Lebanon to cover the fighting near Damascus. He covered the battle between the Hezbollah infantry and Syrian air force against various rebel forces. He was there for 10 days before they kidnapped him.

March 17, 2012, near Al Janoudia, Syria: Rebels are resting after a gun battle with government forces. About eleven rebels, survivors of the fighting in Idlib and Al Janoudia, are holed up inside a small house. Most have deserted from the Syrian army to join the rebellion. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

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The experience of being kidnapped felt like it happened very slowly, he said, like maybe it wasn’t real.

“You think it’s not really happening and it’s not real there’s a mistake and everything will get resolved. So usually there’s that moment when you think that you’re actually dreaming what you’re going through,” he told CBS. 

The journalist was blindfolded, handcuffed and beaten during the 81 days. He had to go through mock executions, interrogations and head games. His captors would be nice one day and then very difficult the next. In the book, Alpeyrie says he tried to gain the trust of the young soldiers holding him.

March 18, 2012, near Al Janoudia, Syria: Rebels are drinking tea and washing up early in the morning inside their makeshift defensive position. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

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“The torturing and beatings were done mostly by the older officer groups. So I spent a lot of time manipulating those young guys to make sure I would get their favors, like making sure my handcuffs were not as tight, being allowed to go to the bathroom one extra time during the day,” he said to CBS. 

He was finally granted freedom after nearly three months when a powerful Syrian businessman paid his ransom in order to curry favor with the West. Despite this harrowing experience, Alpeyrie said he would return to Syria.

“Of course I – you’re always tempted to go back to these different war zones just for personal reasons. After the war when it ends, which will most likely happen fairly soon, I would definitely like to go back and see the places where I was captured.”

March 19, 2012, Turkish border, Syria: Syrian families are hurrying toward the Turkish border with the help of local fighters. Many children are present. The rebels still hold a mountainous area around a few villages such as Al Chatouria. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

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April 25, 2013, Yabroud, Syria: A Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighter is taking aim at government troops controlling the next town over, Al-Nabek. Rebels from FSA have been fighting to keep the town and its surroundings clear of government troops, who have been shelling on a daily basis, killing civilians as well as fighters. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

April 25, 2013, Yabroud, Syria: An FSA fighter is on the lookout from inside a defensive position after government forces just shelled the area with tanks. This area is attacked often throughout the day and night. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

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April 25, 2013, Yabroud, Syria: In a secret field hospital, an FSA fighter is being treated for wounds received in battle. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

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April 25, 2013, Yabroud, Syria: Two civilians were killed on this day because of government shelling. The local men pray together before the burial. (Jonathan Alpeyrie/Polaris/ Courtesy Atria Books)

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