This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
Enzo G. Baldoni (October 8, 1948 – August 26, 2004) was an Italian journalist working freelance and for the Italian news magazine Diario before being kidnapped and killed in captivity as captured on video by his captors.[1] Baldoni was one of two Italians kidnapped in Iraq.[2]
Enzo G. Baldoni | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 8, 1948 Città di Castello, Umbria, Italy |
| Disappeared | August 19, 2004 (aged 55) Najaf, Iraq |
| Died | August 26, 2004 (aged 55) |
| Cause of death | Execution |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | Diario |
| Spouse | Married |
| Children | Two children |
Personal life
editBaldoni was born in Città di Castello, Umbria. He had arrived in Baghdad a few weeks before his kidnapping and death, and also served there as a Red Cross volunteer. He was married with two children.
Career
editBaldoni had started his career in diverse jobs including working as a mason (in Belgium), a gymnastics professor, photographer, interpreter and laboratory technician.[citation needed] He then moved into advertising, working for the advertising agency Le balene colpiscono ancora ("The whales strike again").[citation needed] Finally, he became a freelance journalist. He was also a translator, and was responsible for the Italian translation of Doonesbury comic strips.
Kidnapping and death
editHe was kidnapped near Najaf, Iraq, 19 August 2004 by the Islamic Army in Iraq, an Iraqi insurgent group, allegedly linked with Al-Qaeda. His driver-interpreter was killed during the abduction. The Islamic Army released a videotape, aired on August 24 by Al Jazeera, in which it threatened to kill Baldoni unless Italian troops were withdrawn from Iraq within 48 hours. On August 26, Al Jazeera came into possession of a videotape depicting Baldoni's murder. This videotape was not aired because of its gruesome nature. The existence of this tape is based on claims made by Al Jazeera only. Other sources claim it is only a video frame or a still shot taken with a digital camera.[citation needed]
Al-Jazeera did not elaborate on how or where Baldoni was killed.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Profile: Enzo Baldoni". BBC News. 2004-08-27. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "Italy deplores Iraq hostage death". BBC News. 2004-08-27. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "CNN.com - Italians trying to get journalist's body back - Aug 27, 2004". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.