Shelly Kittleson: A Journalist’s Captivity and Our Call to Prayer
Shelly Kittleson: A Journalist's Captivity and Our Call to Prayer | Qalamkaar Shelly Kittleson: A Journalist's Captivity and Our Call to Prayer A worn journalist's notebook lies open beside a pen and a map of Iraq, a small candle flickering nearby — a visual prayer for the safe return of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson, kidnapped while reporting truth. What does it mean to be held in darkness while the world scrolls past, unaware? On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Shelly Kittleson — a journalist who has spent years illuminating the lives of others — was taken. Kidnapped in Iraq. Her name now sits at the intersection of a breaking news headline and a prayer whispered in the dark. Al-Monitor , the outlet she contributed to with courage and clarity, has issued a public call for her immediate release. But beyond the statement lies a question that reaches into t...