IS releases 22 abducted Christians

Islamic State (ISIL) militants have released more than 20 Christians kidnapped in northern Syria in February, a representative of the Assyrian community in Lebanon said Tuesday. The Assyrian Diocese in Al-Hasakah province did not disclose the details of payment pending the release process to complete.

He said 14 of the released were women.

“Negotiations between Assyrian leaders and Sunni leaders who have pledged allegiance to ISIL have been taking place, and following an agreement they were released”.

The abductions have been reported after ISIL fighters seized two Assyrian villages from Kurdish forces alongside the Khabur River within the province of Hasakah in February.

Abdulrahman said a ransom has been paid but Yakoub denied it.

Yakoub added that the captives had not been bodily harmed.

It published photographs of the former hostages, showing several elderly women weeping as they were greeted by a priest. “They have been fed disgusting and inedible meals”, he stated. “It gives us some hope that some day those remaining will be released”.

ISIS has released 22 Assyrian Christians in north-eastern Syria, according to the British-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory on Human Rights (SOHR).

IS has captured hundreds of hostages, including Christians from different sects, in territory in Syria and Iraq.