Kidnapped at Gunpoint: 81 Days in Captivity

Summary

Episode Summary: "Kidnapped at Gunpoint: 81 Days in Captivity"

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Real Survival Stories, hosted by John Hopkins on the Noiser network, listeners delve into the harrowing true tale of Jonathan Alpery, a seasoned photojournalist who finds himself thrust into an unimaginable ordeal. Released on July 30, 2025, this episode captures the intense 81-day captivity of Alpery in war-torn Syria, highlighting his resilience and the complex human dynamics that emerge in extreme survival situations.

Background of Jonathan Alpery

Jonathan Alpery is a 34-year-old photojournalist born in Paris and raised between France and the United States. With an athletic build reminiscent of a former swimming champion, Alpery's cosmopolitan charm is paired with a rugged American physique. Educated in ancient history, he transitioned into journalism in his early twenties, covering conflicts across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His previous experiences in Syria, including a narrow escape from government forces during the early stages of the civil war, set the stage for his fateful return.

Notable Quote:

"[Jonathan] assumes nothing about the dangers, pushing boundaries to capture more authentic and impactful photographs."
—Jonathan Alpery ([14:45])

The Kidnapping

On April 29, 2013, Jonathan travels to a small village in Syria with his associates: Al Farouk, a local fixer; Abu Faras, a Free Syrian Army commander; and another fixer known as "No Problem." As they navigate the desolate roads towards a mountain range, their journey takes a sinister turn at a rebel checkpoint. Within moments, the group is ambushed, and Jonathan is abducted at gunpoint.

Notable Quote:

"It's so quick, you don't have time to react, to wonder what is happening at the time."
—Jonathan Alpery ([03:56])

Life in Captivity

Jonathan's initial interactions with his captors are marked by psychological manipulation and fluctuating dynamics of brutality and kindness. The rebels employ tactics such as mock executions to break his spirit, juxtaposed with moments of camaraderie where they share meals or engage in casual conversations.

Psychological Tactics:

• Mock Executions: Used to instill fear and assert dominance.

  "They were doing mock executions on me. That was probably the most difficult moments for me."
  —Jonathan Alpery ([06:50])

• Building Relationships: Over time, Jonathan befriends several of his captors, including young men like Medj and Rabia, who show genuine curiosity and kindness.

  "Most of them were actually quite nice guys. The irony of it all, they were nice guys."
  —Jonathan Alpery ([19:08])

Living Conditions:

• Abandoned Villa: Initially held in a room that was once a family's children's space, adorned with cartoon stickers, transforming it into a bleak prison cell.
• Second Villa: Later moved to a more secure and better-equipped villa, complete with pools and extensive armories, reflecting the evolving dynamics of his captivity.

Notable Quote:

"I did befriend most of them. It was a conscious decision for them to see me more as a human being rather than just merchandise."
—Jonathan Alpery ([26:20])

Challenges and Psychological Struggles

Jonathan grapples with the constant threat of death, not only from his captors but also from external dangers like government bombardments. The unpredictability of his situation leads to significant psychological strain, manifesting in anxiety, fear, and moments of profound introspection.

Notable Quote:

"Your brain is in complete disarray. So from one second to the next, you can think great to terrible, right?"
—Jonathan Alpery ([09:08])

Path to Release

After three weeks of captivity, a pivotal moment occurs when Jonathan is abruptly moved to a more secure villa amidst escalating conflict. Here, he encounters Esad, a local warlord who, recognizing Jonathan's swimming prowess, requests swimming lessons—a unique interaction that further humanizes his captors.

Turn of Events:

• Introduction to Ideals and Faith: Jonathan participates in prayer sessions with his captors, offering a glimpse into their personal lives and beliefs.
• Attempted Escape: With the help of the French Embassy and his father’s efforts, a plan is set in motion to secure his release. However, the process is fraught with uncertainty and danger as he is transferred between different rebel groups and confronted with potential ransom negotiations.

Notable Quote:

"I never broke. Mentally, I was like, I'm not going to give them what they want because then I'm even more screwed."
—Jonathan Alpery ([22:29])

Release and Aftermath

Jonathan's release is orchestrated through the intervention of a local oligarch, Mr. Abude, and facilitated by the French Ambassador to Lebanon. Despite the formalities and the presence of seasoned negotiators, the release process remains ambiguous, leaving lingering questions about the true motives and future implications for Jonathan.

Final Moments of Captivity:

"The feeling of freedom that I had there was so intense that no one was going to stop me."
—Jonathan Alpery ([45:40])

Reflection: Post-release, Jonathan grapples with the psychological scars of his ordeal. He continues his career in photojournalism, covering conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, while also dedicating time to support organizations assisting families of kidnapped individuals.

Notable Quote:

"I attribute his survival in Syria to one thing above all else, luck."
—Jonathan Alpery ([50:42])

Conclusions and Insights

Jonathan Alpery's story is a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. The episode explores themes of trust, the psychological impact of captivity, and the complex morality within war zones. Alpery's ability to form meaningful connections with his captors underscores the nuanced human interactions that can emerge even in dire circumstances.

Final Thought:

"There are consequences of these kinds of experiences."
—Jonathan Alpery ([50:37])

Closing Remarks

"Kidnapped at Gunpoint: 81 Days in Captivity" offers listeners an in-depth exploration of survival, the human psyche under duress, and the intricate dynamics of trust and betrayal in conflict zones. Jonathan Alpery's journey not only highlights the physical challenges of captivity but also delves into the profound psychological transformations that occur when ordinary individuals confront extraordinary circumstances.

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For those eager to experience more harrowing survival tales, stay tuned for the next episode featuring Mick Doleman's ordeal at sea.

Transcript

[Jonathan Alpery]

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back in Disney's Freakier Friday.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Yes. On August 8th, we switched bodies. I am freaking out right now.

[Narrator]

Let's pause and reframe.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Get tickets now. Now, now. Now for the ultimate movie event of the summer.

[Narrator]

I definitely don't know how to watch as an old person. What do they do? Talk about transitional lenses, home repairs, John Mayer, or, you know, Coldplay.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Disney's Freakier Friday, in theaters August 8th. Get tickets now. Rated PG. Parental guidance suggested. It's April 29th, 2013. A tiny village somewhere in war torn Syria. A white pickup truck pulls away from an abandoned villa, trundling onto a dusty, cratered road. Inside the vehicle is photojournalist Jonathan Alpery, 34 years old, tall and athletic, born in Paris and raised between France and the United States, he combines the cool charm of a cosmopolitan Frenchman with the rugged all American physique of a former swimming chap. Right now, Jonathan is traveling with a distinctly motley band of associates. At the wheel is his local fixer, Al Farouk, smart, lanky man in his 20s. For the past week or so, he's been Jonathan's indispensable right hand man in Syria. Translator, guide, chauffeur and more. Next to Al Farouq, riding shotgun in the front passenger seat, is Abu Faras, a commander in the Free Syrian army, one of a number of rebel outfits currently warring against the country's dictatorial government. Bearded, heavyset, dressed in army camo, with a traditional Syrian kaffir on his head, Abu Faras is not a man you'd want to mess with. One of his soldiers stands in the bed of the truck, gripping the roof of the vehicle as it jolts up and down on the potholed desert roads. He is keeping a careful watch as they head west toward a looming mountain range. On the back seat next to Jonathan is a man he knows only as no Problem, another fixer who, as his nickname suggests, is confident he can arrange anything his clients might wish for. It's no problem. Who has promised to get him up to the front lines. But what Jonathan doesn't know yet is that at least one of the men in the truck has probably already betrayed him.

Looking back, I should have known. It's amazing how people can smile at you and look at you straight and they all know you're gonna get kidnapped. You know you trust them. Sometimes you just have to trust people.

After about 15 minutes on the road, the truck pulls up at what looks like a rebel checkpoint. From this walled concrete structure, three Men in ski masks appear, each of them brandishing a machine gun. Slowly they approach the vehicle, their feet kicking up dust on the sandy road. Abu Faras winds down his window. Without warning, the passenger side door is yanked open by one of the armed men. Abu Faras is hauled out of the vehicle onto the ground. Jonathan barely has time to react before the same thing is happening to him. In a matter of seconds, every man from the truck is on his knees, guns pointed at their heads. Another masked individual emerges from the concrete structure. Jonathan's hands are tied behind his back. His T shirt is pulled up over his head, covering his eyes. Everything goes black.

It's so quick, you don't have time to react, to wonder what is happening at the time. I remember not thinking I was being kidnapped. I just thought it was a big misunderstanding. And sometimes when it's that real and that intense, you don't realize what is going on, really.

Jonathan feels something cool and hard pressed against the side of his head. The barrel of an AK47. Then comes the most deafening sound he's ever heard. With his ears ringing, it takes a few moments for the realization to hit him. He's still alive. The shot was intended to scare him, not kill him.

They break you right from the get go. All of this is very thought of. It's calculated. It's meant to really bring you down, break you and to remind you that what your position is is very much at the bottom.

Jonathan feels a hand gripping his arm. He's pulled to his feet. Through his dark cotton T shirt, he can make out the indistinct forms of the two fixers still kneeling on the ground, shaking with fear. It's either genuine or if they're in on this, an extremely convincing performance. An SUV emerges from behind the concrete shelter and the three of them are manhandled into the back. Then the car speeds off, wheels kicking up the arid earth as they go. Jonathan feels the vehicle accelerate as they zoom along the rough desert roads, leaving his freedom behind them in the dirt.

And we drove away very fast. And my captivity started like that.

Ever wondered what you would do when disaster strikes? If your life depended on your next decision, could you make the right choice? Welcome to real Survival Stories. These are the astonishing tales of ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations. People suddenly forced to fight for their lives. In this episode, we meet Jonathan Alpery, a celebrated photojournalist in 2013. John Jonathan is on his third trip to Syria when he is kidnapped by a group of rebel fighters. Over the next 81 days, he'll get to know his captors extremely well. Though he'll never fully understand what they have in store for him. It will be a harrowing ordeal, testing both his body and his mind. In a country where journalists face execution by extremist groups, forming a rapport with his kidnappers will be crucial to his survival.

They were doing mock executions on me. That was probably the most difficult moments for me. Like, you're trembling, right? Like your whole body is kind of collapses on itself.

I'm John Hopkins from the Noiser Podcast network. This is Real survival stories. It's 10 minutes later. The kidnapper's car pulls up outside a small house. Jonathan and the others are dragged inside. The driver roughs him up and shouts in his face. But not able to speak Arabic, Jonathan has no idea what he's saying. Inside, one of his captors pulls his T shirt back down, swapping his makeshift blindfold for a keffiyeh tied tightly around his head. During the changeover, Jonathan gets a glimpse of his surroundings. The room that will become his home for the foreseeable future. He spots a bunk bed decorated with stickers, Mickey Mouse, the Care Bears, as well as a number of other unfamiliar cartoon characters. This must have been the kids room back when this safe house in the middle of a war zone was a family home. Now the cheerful environs are little more than a prison cell.

They handcuffed me and I was just kind of lying me down in this bedroom and I knew there were two other guys in that room, young guys which were going to become people I, I spend a lot of time with. Then they were telling me there was a misunderstanding and it was going to be fine, but they're just playing with you, that's all.

Dozens of questions and doubts present themselves. What exactly do his captors want with him? Is he a hostage that they can ransom for cash, a valuable commodity they have every incentive to care for? Or is he a sacrificial lamb waiting for slaughter?

Your brain is in complete disarray. So from one second to the next, you can think great to terrible, right? And that was a constant up and down, which is actually truly exhausting psychologically.

Within the first few hours, Jonathan is kicked and abused and then suddenly given some hot food. This fluctuation between cruelty and kindness sets the tone for what's to come. The emotional and psychological seesaw is more than he can cope with. He passes out on the bedroom floor. That night, the two fixers, Al Farouk and the so called no problem, are driven away in the suv. Jonathan will never see either of them again. So he'll never know for sure what happened, who betrayed him, or how exactly the deception was orchestrated. The only thing that's certain is that he is now alone and in the greatest peril of his life. So how did Jonathan find himself here? Born in France but largely educated in America, Jonathan studied ancient history before going on to work for local newspapers in Chicago. In his early 20s, he began traveling with his job, becoming a distinguished photojournalist, covering conflicts in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Now in his mid-30s and a seasoned war photographer, he's had more than his share of close shaves. On a previous trip to Syria, for example, he witnessed the early stages of the country's civil war between its authoritarian leader, Bashar al Assad, and the rebel groups opposing him. During this visit, Jonathan and his friend Georgios narrowly escaped being blown to pieces by government forces.

I was already pretty experienced in covering conflicts, but I had a feeling this was a different level in terms of the intensity of the fighting. When it started very quickly, I went in with a buddy of mine, a Greek photographer, and what I remember the most is how disorganized the rebellion was. At the time, we didn't really have any trust in their abilities to fight. We were staying with a bunch of rebels, and I just had a bad feeling about these guys. So we ended up forcing them to have us relocate. And the next day, they were all killed. They got hit by a tank shell.

If Jonathan had not trusted his gut and moved away from the group, he too would have perished. The threat of death is constant in a country ravaged by war. So when a chance to return to Syria presented itself, his mother begged him not to go.

My mother is a bit of a witch in the sense that she is able to read things. I mean, her sensibility of her surrounding is quite attuned, so they usually listen to her. This time, I didn't. My mother raised me very independently. So the consequence of that is you create a human being who's, like her, fiercely independent. So I was going to make my own way.

Not that Jonathan is blase about the risks his job entails.

I'm always anxious before I go to a place, so I've canceled trips, I've done that. Just didn't feel it, so I didn't do it. Especially when I physically leave my house and I lock the door, and then I always tell myself, oh, Jonathan, maybe just don't go, and you just go home and, you know, move on and do something else.

When it comes to Syria, Jonathan has always tried to play it safe, although for a war photographer, safe is very much a relative term. On his previous trips, he photographed affected areas, but stayed more on the fringes of the conflict. This time around, however, he is taking a different route.

So I decided to push the envelope a little bit, and I went to an area which was an hour and a half north of Damascus. In order to get there, you have to go through Lebanon, and that itself is tricky. But I had very good contacts in Lebanon, a very powerful Christian family from the north, and they had many contacts, and they are the ones who set things up for me to enter the war zones and get picked up by rebels and end up at the front lines.

It's Jonathan's Lebanese contacts who introduced him to his fixer, Al Farouk, and even offered to pay for his services.

To give you a little context, when I was covering the battle of Mosul in northern Iraq, the average price for daily rate for a fixer to go to the front was 800 bucks a day. Now you have better ones and lesser ones, and it's a business. The good ones, they charge more. That fixture in Syria was a friend of these contacts I had in Lebanon, so I didn't have to pay for it. It was a favor to me. And he was a local guy with the motorcycles who would get around a motorcycle every time there was bombing and stuff like that. We just go shoot it and then at night come back and file for my agency at the time.

Together, Jonathan and Al Farouk have visited local bomb sites, hospitals and morgues, paying witness to the devastating consequences of the regime's attacks on the area. But after a week or so, Jonathan started to believe he could do better.

After a while, it got just photographically just the same. Photography is. It's a big responsibility because you only represent a very fraction of a reality, which is that frame that you photographed. And you also are responsible when it comes to the violence that you want to show. In my opinion, a good photographer, a good photo does not show death and violence straight up. That's easy. Everybody can do that. It's the insinuation of something, in my opinion, that's much more powerful. In the same way that when you see an impactful movie and the end leaves you wondering, and then your imagination, the symbolic part of your brain, kicks in and tries to understand or imagine something. And I think it's the same for photography. If you can insinuate things more than just being right in your face, I think that's a better talent.

With this goal in mind. Jonathan felt it was important for him to get up close with the rebel fighters.

The idea was to get closer to the front, another front really, where there was more infantry clashes. I was looking for that. That was the idea to embed me with another group that was actually a bit more active tactically that was more interesting for me.

This endeavor was obviously always going to be high risk, but Jonathan could have no idea where it would lead him. Betrayed, blindfolded and whisked away by masked men. And now he is more immersed in the action than ever before, handcuffed to a bunk bed with guns pointed at his head.

[Narrator]

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[Jonathan Alpery]

By the time dawn breaks on Jonathan's first morning in captivity, his two fixes, his two allies are both out of the picture. He's all alone with just the motley band of soldiers who have captured him for company. What exactly this dangerous group of rebels wants with him is still murky. Under their control, time becomes warped. Days merge together as things quickly settle into a depressingly familiar routine.

I was getting tortured almost every day for a while. The guys were ordered to. I don't think they took pleasure in it. They would take me to the living room and they would just get a beaten there. It was just like they broke my ribs, two of them. And actually I played on that because I mean it was very painful and I couldn't breathe, but I even acted even more so. They would feel bad about it and then it stopped and it was weird because they would do it and then when they were done they were like, hey, I would eat with them, they would give me a cigarette. You know, when it's happening, it's okay. It was more like the anticipation of when it would happen again. That was the issue. Otherwise, when it's happening, you just bite your lip and take it. That's how I viewed it. And then it's weird because it would end and then they would be friendly with me and I would be okay with that.

In between beatings, Jonathan gets to know his captors better. Some of them speak a little English and they're keen to learn more. One young man, Medj, starts swapping vocab with him, teaching Jonathan words in Arabic in exchange for their English translations.

Most of them were actually quite nice kids. The irony of it all, they were nice guys. There was one called Rabia. I remember he was a young guy, he was 18. He was always very nice to me. Mej, he was the other one in the bedroom. He was also very nice. These guys were more curious about me than anything else. And they would ask me all these questions and often they were asking me about women. I remember Mej asked me to take a picture of him with his cell phone because he had a woman he liked in another village and they asked him advice how to talk to her. So I actually got a bit intimate with these guys.

To the Syrian teenagers, this photojournalist who lives in New York City is an intriguing curiosity. Tall, handsome, pale skinned. But at one point, while the group is gathered around a grainy TV screen, Jonathan's all American good looks threatened to land him in hot water.

They had this TV and because we were close to the Lebanese border, they could catch channels and they were playing the Green Lantern. And I'll never forget they looked at me like this and they were like pointing at the tv.

The Syrians aren't the first ones to notice that Jonathan bears a passing resemblance to the Green Lantern star, Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds. Not exactly a look like, but to young men who've never seen a Westerner in the flesh before, that got me.

Really worried because the first thing that clicked into my mind was I'm gonna become more expensive because they think I'm a famous actor and I'm not. And I kept telling them this is someone else, and they really weren't sure. I think a lot of those guys are local peasants. Like there's local guys, you know, they've never really left their village, that kind. So they're genuine in that sense, but they're a bit naive.

If the Syrians believe Jonathan to be a celebrity, they may demand outlandish sums of money to release him. It takes all of his powers of persuasion to convince them that they haven't actually kidnapped the Green Lantern. But it turns out their leader, an overweight man called Abu Talal, has developed a new, even more unsettling theory about him. He's not a war photographer at all. He's a CIA agent.

They were more worried about CIA stuff like that, which is always a possibility. Our profession is a good cover. It's happened, so, you know, why not? I was really worried about being accused of being a spy. And therefore my situation would be far worse than it would be if I was just a photographer.

One day, Jonathan is led blindfolded into the living room. When the keffir is whipped off his head, he finds an audience ready and waiting. 20 rebels at least sat around in a semicircle with expectant looks on their faces. If not for the thick beards and army uniforms, they might be a class of school kids on a visit to the theater. The show they're about to see is an intense one. The interrogation begins. Shouting, fists, bangs on the table. The rebels demand to know if Jonathan is a spy.

Asking me these questions over and over, thinking that I would break and just give up. But I never did. I never broke. Mentally, I was like, I'm not going to give them what they want because then I'm even more screwed. And trust me, they tried. I wonder if they respected that somehow, because I was, like, holding tough, you know, Some of the guys were looking at me differently after that.

A week later, Abu Talal brings out the big guns. Although in this case, the biggest gun available is actually a simple kitchen knife. This time, there's no crowd gathered in the living room just a couple of chairs either side of a wooden table. Jonathan takes a seat opposite a man in a desert khaki camouflage uniform. Then in comes one of his regular guards, an older man who he thinks used to be a police officer. The last time he saw this particular jailer, the two of them shared a cigarette. Now, though, the former bobby is very much in bad cop mode. He walks over to the table with a stony look on his face and a large kitchen knife in each hand. As Jonathan watches, his eyes wide open, the man begins sharpening the blades against each other. Then suddenly, he sets one of the knives down on the table and walks around until he is standing directly behind Jonathan. He feels a strong hand grabbing him by the hair, pulling his head backwards, exposing his neck.

You're trembling, right? Like your whole body kind of collapses on itself. It's almost like you're an animal. And that leaves a very long term impression which does not really dwindle over time.

He can feel the cold metal against his skin, the pressure of the blade. After the longest few seconds of Jonathan's life, his captor withdraws the knife and releases him, then casually takes a seat at the table.

I tremble for the rest of the day. You feel cold, you're exhausted, and it's a bit like when you, you took a very cold shower and you can't warm up after that. It's a bit like that. That man, he was an older guy. I remember after that he was always super nice to me. Didn't want to have anything to do with him, but he would come up to me, he's like, yeah, it's okay, you know, it's just a game. He son of a. Like, okay. But yeah, it was. That was tough.

While the kidnappers learn more about Jonathan, eventually giving up on the idea that he's secretly a CIA spy, he is learning more about them too, including where exactly they fit in the pantheon of rebel groups currently fighting the Assad regime. Fortunately for him, these guys are not religious extremists, not jihadists. Their interest in him is purely financial.

There are different degrees. You know, you have ISIS and Al Nusra and then it goes down the ladder to opportunistic criminal gangs who were operating in Syria. These guys, I would say, were pretty regular guys. They were Muslims. But a historical context in which they found themselves into force them to make a decision. You join, you don't, you flee to Turkey, whatever you decide to do. So, yes, I was very lucky for that.

The threat of death still hangs heavy in the air. But the more time Jonathan spends with his captors, the more it seems they don't want any real harm to come to him if they can help it. And so with his life in the rebel's hands, might as well try to get on with him. But it's more than that. He begins to genuinely like them as well.

I did befriend most of them. It was a conscious decision for them to see me more as a human being rather than just merchandise, which you are. This is pretty much what you are. You're worth money.

But even if his captors value him more alive than dead, there are other extreme external dangers to contend with. The war outside grows increasingly heavy. Strapped to the bed most of the days, Jonathan is a sitting duck in the darkness. Beneath his blindfold, he can feel the ground vibrate and hear bone shattering explosions Tearing through the hard earth just outside the safe house begins suffering serious damage from government shelling.

When I was handcuffed and blindfolded and there was heavy shelling that was bad because I couldn't see and the windows were breaking or trembling. And then it was like the explosions and everything and the machine gun fire and stuff like that. You're just sitting there, you have no idea what the hell's going on. So that was tough. I knew I was going to get killed like that, not by them, but by government forces just bombing the hell out of us. So at the end, they were dealing with losing a battle and they had to take care of me. And I think for them, that was a logistical nightmare.

A logistical nightmare, a liability, a burden. In the eyes of his captors, Jonathan might suddenly be in more trouble than he's worth. So far, there has been no specific talk of a ransom. It's not clear they even know how to go about negotiating one. And if that is the case, there's one very dangerous potential alternative. The gang might decide to sell him to another group instead. One less invested in keeping their merchandise alive and well, and more interested in making a spectacle of him.

There were other groups that are trying to buy me, and they were much more hardcore Islamists, and that would have been a different story altogether.

[Narrator]

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[Jonathan Alpery]

One night, after three weeks in captivity, Jonathan is sleeping uncomfortably in his creaky bed. For once, all is still and silent, save for the odd light whistle of wind. Suddenly, in the blackness, there is a shuffle of feet. Jonathan is shaken awake and told to put on some clothes. Groggy, he pulls himself up and gets himself together as quickly as he can. As soon as he's ready, one of his captors roughly grabs him by the bicep and drags him to an SUV parked outside the safe house. There is a somber look on his jailer's face. He barely looks at Jonathan as he's bundled into the backseat. The engine rumbles into life and they're away. As they speed through the night, Jonathan has no idea if he'll ever return.

I thought I was being executed. I didn't know. They don't tell you. You fall into this black hole and you're. The anxiety level is very intense because you don't know.

The wheels spin across the dirt laden ground as Jonathan is taken to who knows where. You can barely breathe. But then, after a short drive, the SUV pulls up outside the gates of a large villa. Jonathan is pulled out of the car and escorted inside. Compared to the dingy abandoned safe house, this new home is a palace.

The second house were basically nice villas that were emptied out because of the fighting, and Sonny realized he was being relocated.

With the old safehouse under constant bombardment, the rebels have decided to move Jonathan to a safer position just up the road from their own hq. The handsome, sprawling villas here even have pools. But while the decor might be a little more salubrious, there's no escaping the fact that there's a war on. For a start, every room is stacked with weapons, from 9 millimeter pistols to AK47s, even RPG launchers. As he gawps at the extensive armory, a wild thought presents itself. If Jonathan grabbed one of these guns now, he could probably take out his jailers in one fell swoop. But the idea quickly dissipates as he's taken to a bedroom and swiftly restrained again. They've given him a longer leash than before, but it's still attached to the bars on the bedroom window. He's still alive, but freedom appears no nearer. The rebels, at any rate, don't appear to view Jonathan as a threat. As the days go by, he is afforded more small luxuries. They even let him swim in one of the pools. It's the closest Jonathan has felt to his old life since he came to Syria a month earlier.

I was doing laps on my back and I remember looking at the blue sky and for a brief second I felt free. Just that moment.

The rebels, meanwhile, are impressed with Jonathan's form in the water. He's been an avid swimmer since childhood, qualifying for the Junior Olympics at high school and later joining a competitive water polo team. One day, the local warlord approaches him with a surprising request. He asks Jonathan to teach him how to swim. His name is Esad, not to Be confused with Asad, the Syrian dictator. A heavyset, hairy fellow, he is in charge of around a thousand rebels in the area, and in a pair of bright orange and red shorts, he cuts quite a figure on the poolside.

The warlord showed up in Hawaiian swim trunks and can't make this up, and I had to teach him how to swim while all the soldiers in the offices were around the pool laughing because he went from being the local warlord to being someone I was holding in my arms, just trying to have him float instead of sink right to the bottom.

Soon the warlord's swimming lessons have become a regular part of Jonathan's routine, and Essad begins spending time at the villa where Jonathan is staying, too, joining the men charged with guarding the Westerner in their regular prayer sessions. A somewhat lapsed Catholic, Jonathan has been getting back in touch with his own beliefs recently, so when his captors invite him to join them in prayer, he agrees. Though while the men around him praise Allah, Jonathan focuses on his own faith.

I was reciting Christian Catholic prayers that I've heard when I was a kid, and that was a bit of a rebellion because that was quite blasphemous to do something like this for them. And so there was a bit of a resistance purely for me. It didn't mean anything else to anyone else.

It's dusk. Jonathan is praying alone on a balcony overlooking the valley towards Lebanon, 5km away. He sits on a white plastic garden chair, waiting for the sun to set. It's become a daily ritual, a key part of his new routine. When the sun hits the peak of a particular mountain, he always begins reciting the Lord's Prayer. He murmurs, our Father, who art in heaven. But this time, his devotion is interrupted by a visit from two of his young jailers. They have something to tell him, something that's hard to believe.

[Abu Talal]

Rabi and Noor came up on the balcony. I was and told me, oh, you're free, you're free. Told me I was going to be released. I didn't believe it, but they kind of rushed me. I grabbed whatever I had, which is not much, and they put me in a car and they drove me away. It was very quick. I just remember turning around. I was in the back seat of this SUV kind of car, and I remember Mej, Rabia and Noor just waving at me goodbye, like I was leaving a summer camp.

[Jonathan Alpery]

It's a surreal sight as Jonathan looks out of the car's back window, his youthful Syrian captors bidding him a fond farewell. By this point, he knows not to count his chickens before they're hatched. The idea that he's really on his way home to New York seems distinctly far fetched. They bump along desert roads. Rocks and rubble fly upwards, dislodged by the wheels of the car in time. They arrive in the city of Yabrut, not far from where Jonathan was kidnapped two months earlier. The SUV pulls up outside an apartment block. Two of the men traveling with him go inside. Jonathan is left to wait in the vehicle. 10 minutes pass. 20, an hour. Eventually, they return and tell him to follow them inside. They bring him to a living room. A group of men are sat around in the midst of an animated conversation. Jonathan has no idea what they're saying, but it's clear some kind of negotiation is taking place, and it doesn't take him long to realize that he is the merchandise being haggled over. Even more worrying, the men bartering over him right now are dressed in the characteristic black uniforms of the Shabia, a shadowy militia known to be fiercely loyal to the Assad regime. Unlike the rebels, these guys are neatly dressed and clean shaven. One of them even sports a pair of Ray Ban aviator sunglasses. But their reputation for brutality precedes them. The Shabir are known for their sadistic methods of torture. And compared to the ragtag band of outlaws Jonathan's been staying with the past couple of months, these are the professionals.

[Abu Talal]

It was like 20 of them, all heavily armed, all dressed in black like military uniforms. And I knew these were government guys, and I thought I was being sold to the government, and then I started freaking out.

[Jonathan Alpery]

The deal is done and Jonathan is handed over. But his new captors don't behave in the way their brutal reputation suggests they might. Sitting in the back of another suv, Jonathan is handed a black cap and uniform just like theirs to help him blend in. Then he receives some plight but firm instructions. When we get to a checkpoint, keep your mouth shut. He does as he's told. Sure enough, soon they're breezing through checkpoint after checkpoint, heading out of rebel territory and closer to the heart of the regime. Before long, they're approaching the Syrian capital, Damascus. It's okay, the guy in the Ray Bans tells him. You're safe now. Then he adds, not entirely convincingly, you're with the good guys. He hands Jonathan his mobile phone. There's a message on the screen from a wealthy local who claims to have paid his $450,000 ransom. You're free, it reads. You're a very lucky man. Jonathan texts back, awkwardly, thank you. Still not entirely sure he can trust what he's being told. The SUV wends through the streets of the city. As they approach a wealthy neighborhood, Jonathan spots a large shopping mall up ahead. They pull into the car park and the guy in the sunglasses goes inside. He emerges half an hour later, wheeling a heavy case behind him. He has bought supplies for Jonathan. Clean clothes, toothpaste. Perhaps they really are here to help him. Not long after they arrive at the plush house of Jonathan's mysterious benefactor.

[Abu Talal]

I met the guy who paid my ransom and the Lebanese politician who had convinced him to do so.

[Jonathan Alpery]

The full ins and outs of Jonathan's release are unclear. In times of war, things often are. But it seems his benefactor, a man named Mr. Abude, is a local oligarch who has paid these black clad militiamen to deliver the ransom money and then deliver Jonathan safely to him. He is acting for himself in this matter, not the government. Though his precise motives aren't entirely obvious. Perhaps he and the Lebanese politician who convinced him to act hope to gain international favor. Jonathan's kidnapping is a high profile one after all, and helping out in this matter may prove beneficial down the line, who knows? Whatever the case, Jonathan can finally breathe a little easier.

[Abu Talal]

My level of anxiety decreased quite a bit once I got into this house because first of all, as I entered the massive living room, there was CNN on this massive big screen tv. The data alone for several, you know, it's something familiar, right? It brings down the anxiety. And then there was a banquet of.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Incredible food and dishes. Amazing.

[Abu Talal]

And obviously I hadn't eaten well in months.

[Jonathan Alpery]

But Jonathan's ordeal isn't over quite yet. He still has to get back across the border into Lebanon. Fortunately, his new friends have a plan for that as well. Aboud personally drives him to the Lebanese border. When they get there, he pops open the boot of his car and tells Jonathan to get inside. Aboud will have to pay off the guards on the Lebanese side. Jonathan just has to stay quiet and hope it all works out.

[Abu Talal]

I was ready to go and there was no anxiety in it. It was just I was ready for the first and whatever I needed to do, I would do it. So I was very much on board. I didn't hesitate. It really felt like this was the real thing and that finally I was going to be free. So this was a complete switch in my psyche.

[Jonathan Alpery]

For the next 15 minutes, Jonathan waits in the darkness of the trunk, listening to the sound of border guards questioning his driver in Arabic. Eventually they are on their way again. A few miles down the road, they pull over and the lid springs open in the early morning light. Jonathan clambers out, stretches his aching limbs and breathes in the fresh, cool air of a Lebanese dawn. While his benefactor turns around and heads back to Syria, Jonathan is placed into another vehicle by two of the wealthy man's associates, armed goons who, despite their friendly demeanor and sharp suits, look like they know how to handle themselves. It's an hour's drive to downtown Beirut. The men lead Jonathan up to a penthouse apartment a stone's throw from the beach. From the balcony, he can see the sun glinting on the eastern Mediterranean. But there'll be no swimming today. The guards tell him to stay put while their friends square things with the Lebanese authorities on his behalf. In the meantime, they'll be keeping an eye on him. They do at least give Jonathan a mobile phone so he can let his parents know that he's alive. His father almost collapses from the shock. For the past two months, he has been working with Jonathan's contacts in Lebanon, trying to get him released and having to make horrible decisions in the process because things almost got very bad. As Jonathan once feared, an extremist Islamist group were indeed planning on buying him. And his father was prepping some drastic plans before that happened.

[Abu Talal]

What I found out through my father is that there was a plan to attack the village where I was being held and kill my captors and free them, bring me back to Lebanon. About 150 soldiers, mercenaries, paid for on the border, and they were ready to go. Fortunately, I was released a day or two before the assault was launched.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Right now, Jonathan may be out of harm's way, but he is still under lock and key, guarded by burly men carrying guns. And there's no knowing when or even if they'll get around to actually sending him back home. But not long after speaking to his father, he receives a call from the French ambassador to Lebanon. Are you able to leave? He asks. Can you make an escape? Jonathan tells him, I think so. The ambassador instructs him to make his way to the Four Seasons Hotel, about 100 yards down the street from the apartment block. Someone from the embassy will meet him there. Jonathan picks his moment carefully, waiting until the guards are enjoying a cigarette on the balcony before making a run for it.

[Abu Talal]

The feeling of freedom that I had there was so intense that no one was going to stop me. And I rushed to the Four Season and the police officers were already there. They grabbed me and they put me in the back of their car and they drove to the French and the Sea.

[Jonathan Alpery]

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[Jonathan Alpery]

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[Jonathan Alpery]

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[Narrator]

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[Jonathan Alpery]

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That's what makes Jack Jack. Please drink responsibly. Responsibility.org Jack Daniels and old number seven are registered trademarks. Copyright 2025 Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey 40 alcohol by volume 80 proof. After 81 days as a hostage, the French Embassy is a balm to both body and soul. Housed in a hundred year old Ottoman palace, it's a far cry from the shell damaged safe houses Jonathan's been living in for the past two months. He spends his days doing laps in the embassy pool surrounded by palm trees and his evenings dining with a French ambassador and his wife. But despite the luxurious environs, Jonathan finds it hard to relax.

[Abu Talal]

The first night I spoke at the embassy, when I woke up, I had this insane panic at that because I opened my eyes and I didn't know where I was. My brain for some reason could not put the two together. And I'm looking around the room and I still don't know where I am. It took about 20 minutes. It was a very weird 20 minutes. But I panicked completely and I had no idea where I was.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Jonathan will have to stay at the embassy for a while until his legal problems are ironed out. Many people want to speak to him, including the FBI. For the second time in two months, he has to fend off accusations that he is secretly a foreign agent.

[Abu Talal]

They were worried that if I'd convert to Islam. They did ask me and I said, merle, it is protocol for them to find out because if they do turn you into something else, then they have a security problem. So it's normal for them to find out. But they realize very quickly that they had nothing to fear.

[Jonathan Alpery]

After five days as a guest of the French ambassador, Jonathan's legal problems are all sorted he is free to catch a plane back to Paris and from there to his home in New York. Finally, his ordeal is really over.

[Abu Talal]

I consider myself a very resilient individual, so I'm often able to bounce back very quickly. Now, obviously, you never come back the same. Some kidnappings are worse than others. Mine was brutal because of the fighting. Some of the torturing is only three months, right? Some of these other guys in Raqqa, they got captured for a year and a half, two years. So I was lucky in that sense.

[Jonathan Alpery]

Back in New York, Jonathan begins working with an organization that helps the families of kidnapped Americans in Syria and other war zones around the world. Through this work, he even meets President Obama. He also meets Diane Foley, whose son James, a US journalist, was kidnapped in Syria the previous year. After being held for over two years, Foley is murdered by Islamic State. In August 2014, they release a video of his execution in the Syrian desert titled A Message to America. It is a case of There but for the grace of God go I. Despite the ever present dangers and despite his kidnapping, Jonathan continues his photography work today. Not taking a backward step, he's gone on to cover the war in Ukraine. Though his experiences in Syria have left an indelible mark.

It stays with you. Every time I hear firecrackers or even thunder or even a subway coming, it just kicks me right back in. I just remember these moments and there are many of them of going through shelling. And that always gets to me. There's no way around it. I think I will always have that. Soldiers have that.

[Abu Talal]

It's normal.

[Jonathan Alpery]

So there are consequences of these kinds of experiences.

Looking back, Jonathan says he attributes his survival in Syria to one thing above all else, luck.

[Abu Talal]

Things could have gone away and I would still be there dead or. Some people believe in a greater good, whether it's God or just the universe or the cosmos as a whole, or just pure luck or circumstances. I don't know what it is, but when you look into the details of it, that should not be, you know, I mean, it's just unbelievable to me.

[Jonathan Alpery]

In the next episode, we meet Mick Doleman, a seafarer from Melbourne, Australia. In October 1973, Mick boards the Blythe Star, a merchant vessel docked in Tasmania. It's due to sail from the port of Hobart to the northwest of the island. The journey scheduled to take two days. But Mick will end up at sea for far longer than that as he and his crewmates find themselves stranded in a vulnerable life raft. The hellish experience will involve near starvation, brutal weather, physical turmoil and tragedy as it becomes apparent that survival won't be possible for everyone on board. That's next time on Real Survival Stories. Listen today without ads and without waiting a week by joining Noiser. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Support for this podcast and the following message comes from America's Navy the Navy.

[Narrator]

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