Islamic State releases some captives in Syria
March 02, 2015
The Islamic State has released 19 of the more than 200 Syrian Christians who were captured during an offensive last week, after the payment of a large ransom.
Estimates of the number of hostages being held by the Islamic State continued to mount, with some reports saying that 300 people might be in captivity. However, Church officials said that there was no basis for reports that the Islamic militants had begun killing the captives.
The 19 freed hostages arrived safely in Hassake, Syria, on March 1. The AsiaNews service reported that a sum of about $1,700 had been paid for each person released. An Islamic court had reportedly imposed that fee as a jizya--a tax paid by Christians and Jews who decline to convert to Islam.
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Further information:
- Islamic State releases captives (ACN)
- Islamic State group frees 19 Syrian Christians in Syria after a ransom is paid (AsiaNews)
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