Bishop helped broker ransom of 226 hostages from ISIS

December 07, 2016

In February 2015, the Islamic State attacked Christian villages in northern Syria, seizing over 200 hostages.

The Associated Press has published a report on how Syrian Christians around the world worked to raise $11 million to ransom 226 hostages, and the key role played in their ransom by Bishop Afram Athneil of the Assyrian Church of the East. (The church ceased to be in communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431.)

The ransom payments raised questions for two reasons: because the payment of ransom is illegal in some countries and because the funds went to the Islamic State.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Ransomed: The freeing of 226 Christians from Islamic State (AP)