Kayla Mueller was a 24 year old Christian and an Arizona-raised girl. She graduated from Tri-City Prep High School in 2007 and later attended Northern Arizona University in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona. Kayla supported worthy causes like human rights, youth mentor-ship and humanitarian aid. Her work in the Middle East included volunteering for Palestinian humanitarian and African Refugees. Kayla started working in Turkey in December 2012 where she assisted Syrian refugees. The beautiful American decided to travel to Northern Syria to the city of Aleppo with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was a contractor hired to install communications equipment at the Doctors Without Borders Hospital.
Family warned her of safety concerns but she insisted her safety by going with a large group affiliated with Doctors Without Borders. The well-known organization Doctors Without Borders had not reported or announced any previous abductions or beheadings within their zones and locations. Doctors Without Borders knowingly let people come to their hospitals without any safety warnings or previous danger reports.
Growing up I heard great things about the organization Doctors Without Borders, but are they as truthful as we all think and hope? Kayla worked with the international aid agency Support to Life in Turkey, but this specific trip was not work-related.
Upon leaving Aleppo to return to Turkey, she was brutally abducted by militants associated with ISIS. Doctors Without Borders took no responsibility and failed to assist. Kayla wore hijabs while traveling to ensure her secret as a foreigner was kept safe and she was not a target. Kayla's boyfriend reports that there was a spy at the hospital during their visit, and that is when Kayla's life changed forever. The spy was associated with ISIS. As Kayla and the Boyfriend were leaving the hospital doors, they were attacked by gunmen associated with ISIS. The two were taken, beaten and ruthlessly abused. The boyfriend was set free and Kayla was taken as a hostage.
Kayla was under the impression that there had been zero abductions and Doctors Without Borders had reported zero hostages affiliated with the organization. However, Kayla was not the only hostage affiliated with Doctors Without Borders. Doctors Without Borders was aware of the recent abductions and failed to report it to others who would soon to be in danger. Kayla would be joining other affiliates with the well known organization as prisoners and sex slaves. Did Kayla's boyfriend fail her? Did Doctors Without Borders manipulate her?
Fox News and anonymous sources say that Kayla and other American hostages locations were known by the White House in May 2014, however a rescue mission was not made for at least seven weeks. The hostages had been dispersed and moved to separate locations to endure suffering and torture. A U.S. mission failed when ISIS moved the prisoners and the U.S. was unaware of their new locations. A year later, Kayla was known to be a personal captive of Abu Sayyaf. Kayla was tortured physically, emotionally and spiritually. Kayla was a sex slave and was severely tortured. Doctors Without Borders and the Obama Administration would not fight for her safety and return home.
Fellow captives who were released are now sharing their stories of Kayla and her sufferings. They speak of her compassion and bravery. One fellow captive tells of Kayla speaking against ISIS when they tried bragging about how Kayla had abandoned her Christian faith in front of other male prisoners but Kayla verbally disagreed and revealed her bravery. Multiple reports tell of Kayla being supportive of other woman and men being released and passing up her chance of escaping for others to have a chance at freedom. After months and months of prolonged torture and abuse, ISIS members announced Kayla's brutal death. Kayla was in ISIS custody for over 18 long months.
On February 6, 2015 ISIS published a photo of a damaged building in ruins and an alleged Kayla who apparently had been killed in a Jordanian airstrike in the care of ISIS. No proof of death was provided at that time. Kayla's family was left to ponder if their daughter was truly alive or dead. February 10, 2015 Kayla's family announced ISIS had confirmed her death to them through email including three horrid photos of her dead body. Her face severely bruised and garnished in a black hijab. President Obama later offered his condolences to Kayla's family.
On August 24, 2016 ABCNews reported that Doctors Without Borders had DECLINED to help negotiate her release. Did the Obama Administration fail Kayla? Did the well known organization, Doctors Without Borders lie to her? Was Kayla's boyfriend to blame? Who else will have to be abducted and murdered because of lack of communication and truthfulness of the well known organization?
Time Magazine named Kayla Mueller a role model for Millennials, citing her selfless desire to end suffering and her activism seemed genuine and a great possession to hold. Kayla's story is one to be heard. A lady full of courage, bravery, experience and suffering. Kayla's story is being shared on ABCNews through the new segment Kayla Mueller: The Girl Left Behind. The film airs September 10, 2016 tune in for more vivid details of the recent abduction and horrifying truthful story.
