Bring Shelly
Home Now.
Award-winning American journalist Shelly Kittleson was reported missing in Baghdad on March 31, 2026. She was covering civilian reconstruction in the Karrada district. Her family, colleagues, and press freedom organizations are demanding immediate answers.
Live Updates
Latest News
State Department Issues Formal Statement, Demands Transparency
The U.S. State Department Spokesperson confirmed today that officials are "actively working through diplomatic channels" regarding the disappearance of Shelly Kittleson. The statement calls on Iraqi authorities to "provide immediate and transparent information" about the journalist's whereabouts.
CPJ Issues Urgent Action Alert
The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued an urgent action alert calling on the Government of Iraq to immediately disclose the location and status of Shelly Kittleson and to ensure her safety and release.
Outlet Issues Statement: "We Demand Answers"
The Independent World Press, where Kittleson holds a staff correspondent position, issued a formal statement demanding the immediate return of their journalist and pledging full legal and diplomatic support to her family.
What We Know: Timeline of Events
Kittleson was last in contact with her editor on the evening of March 30. She had been reporting on reconstruction efforts in the Karrada district. Her fixer reported her missing the following morning after she failed to return to her hotel.
RSF Calls for 48-Hour Response Window
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) formally demanded that Iraqi authorities respond with substantive information within 48 hours and pledged to escalate to international human rights bodies if no response is received.
Family Spokesperson Issues Public Appeal
A family spokesperson confirmed that Kittleson's immediate family has been in contact with the State Department and is asking the public and press to amplify the campaign. "Every voice matters right now," the spokesperson said.
About Shelly
A Decade of Bearing Witness
- —10+ years Middle East reporting
- —George Polk Award, 2021
- —IRE Award finalist, 2023
- —Staff Correspondent, Independent World Press
- —Previously: Reuters, AP Baghdad bureau
- —Languages: Arabic (proficient), Kurdish (basic)
- —Based: Unknown
- —Accredited press, U.S. passport holder
Shelly Kittleson, 49, is an award-winning American journalist whose reporting from Iraq and the broader Middle East has spanned more than a decade. She first arrived in Baghdad in 2012 as a freelancer, covering the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal, and quickly established herself as one of the most rigorous and empathetic voices on the ground.
Her work for the Independent World Press has included landmark investigations into civilian casualties in Mosul, the humanitarian consequences of the Yazidi genocide, and — most recently — the struggles of ordinary Iraqis navigating reconstruction in neighborhoods destroyed during the anti-ISIS campaign. She was awarded the George Polk Award in 2021 for her long-form series "After the Caliphate," which documented the lives of women and children in post-ISIS Raqqa.
Colleagues describe Kittleson as methodical, deeply sourced, and profoundly committed to ethical journalism. She has completed hostile environment training and operates with full press accreditation. She was in Baghdad on a formal reporting assignment when she went missing on the evening of March 30, 2026.
Her disappearance is deeply alarming to those who know her work. Press freedom organizations have noted that Iraq remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, and that every hour without information increases the urgency of coordinated international pressure.
Arrives in Baghdad as freelance correspondent; begins covering post-withdrawal Iraq
Joins AP Baghdad bureau; covers rise of ISIS across northern Iraq and Syria
Embedded reporting during Mosul offensive; IRE Award finalist for civilian casualty investigation
Joins Reuters Beirut bureau; expands coverage to Lebanon, Syria, and Kurdish-held territories
Joins Independent World Press as Staff Middle East Correspondent
George Polk Award for "After the Caliphate" — post-ISIS reporting series
IRE Award finalist for investigative reporting on reconstruction fraud in Fallujah
Reported missing in Baghdad's Karrada district — March 31, 2026
Wall of Support
Voices for Shelly
Colleagues, readers, and supporters from around the world are speaking out. Add your voice to the growing chorus demanding her safe return.
"In a region where the truth is often a casualty, Shelly Kittleson is a rare and vital witness. Having worked with her closely, I know her grit and her deep commitment to the people of Iraq. We aren't just waiting for a journalist to return; we are waiting for a friend."
Stand With Shelly
Your statement will be added to the public wall of support and shared with advocacy organizations.