ISIS Releases 22 Assyrian Christian Hostages After ‘Tireless Work’ by Church; Priest Greets Weeping Captives
The Islamic State terror group has released 22 Assyrian Christians who were part of a group of over 200 believers kidnapped in February in raids on villages in the Khabur region.
The Assyrian Observatory for Human Rights has said the Christians were released due to “the tireless efforts and negotiations by the Assyrian Church of the East in the city of Hasakeh,” and noted that there were 14 women among the hostages.
Images taken by the human rights group have shown a priest greeting several weeping elderly women, AFP reported on Wednesday.
The Assyrian Network for Human Rights, a second group which has also been working for the release of Christians, said the newly freed captives are from the villages of Tal Shamiram and Tal Jazira.
At least 187 other Assyrians from the Khabur region remain as IS’s prisoners, however, with ANHR Director Osama Edward vowing that negotiations will continue to free them all.
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