Report: ISIS releases 43 Christian hostages
February 23, 2016
The Islamic State has released 43 Christians who were taken captive during a February 2015 military offensive in northeastern Syria, according to the Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization (ACERO).
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The Islamic State had previously freed the majority of the more than 200 hostages, and “this freed group comprises the final hostages from the group abducted from Assyrian villages in February 2015,” according to ACERO. “Therefore, no further hostages remain.”
The Associated Press reported that ransom payments in the millions of dollars were paid to secure the release of the hostages.
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Further information:
- 43 Assyrian Hostages Released in Syria (ACERO)
- Islamic State releases some captives in Syria (CWN, 3/2)
- IS gets millions in ransom for abducted Christians (AP)
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Feb. 23, 2016 4:55 PM ET USA
Strange omission from this story. The San Francisco Chronicle's version (datelined Beirut but otherwise unsourced) says millions of dollars in ransom was paid for these people. The kidnappers had demanded $18,000,000 but an anonymous Syrian Christian said less than half of that was paid. Still pretty significant.
