37 Assyrian Christians released from ISIS captivity

Almost 40 Assyrian Christians kidnapped by Islamic State were today released following negotiations by the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East.

The Assyrian Human Rights Network reported that the 37 released were among those who had been abducted from villages along the Khabour River in northern Syria in February. ISIS militants raided the villages at dawn, taking over 200 people as hostages.

In addition to the 37 freed today, a number have already been released, including 22 elderly men and women in August.

The Assyrian Human Rights Network said the captives released today were also elderly, and had been returned to the town of Tel Tamer. It posted a picture showing several people including one woman, who was weeping, and confirmed that all those who had been freed were in good health.

ISIS have now released 88 hostages in total, and negotiations are continuing to secure the freedom of the remaining 124.

Last month, however, militants released a video showing the execution three of the hostages, and threatened to murder those still in captivity if a multi-million dollar ransom was not paid.

Initially, ISIS demanded a ransom fee of around $100,000 per hostage, totalling $23 million. When it became clear that the Assyrian community could not afford it, however, the amount was lowered to between $12-$14 million.

Following the news of the 37 being freed today, A Demand For Action (ADFA), a campaign group for minorities in the Middle East, congratulated the Assyrian Church on its efforts to secure the release of the hostages, and expressed a hope that more would soon be freed.

Diana Yaqco, spokeswoman for ADFA, told Christian Today: "I am so relieved there is movement again and that the Church has made the Assyrian community so proud in the way it has handled the situation under such huge pressure. The church leaders are not politicians or professional negotiators but they have not abandoned anyone."

She continued: "It is sad we are left to fend for ourselves yet again when cries for help have been ignored by many world leaders since the invasion of Mosul which saw our people become beggars in their country. Have you ever felt a stranger in your own home? That is how we feel. Our children deserve a future and it doesn't need to be under IS and their brutality."

article,article,article,article,article Related

In a statement, ADFA said that mother of one of the hostages executed a few weeks ago was released today, and it is believed that she had not been aware of her son's death. "This remains the sad reality for many, as they do not know if their family members are alive still due to the separation," the statement said.

"We remain in touch with relatives of those whom have been kidnapped in places like Sweden. They are still hopeful to see their loved ones released also and have been filtering through photos circulating on social media in hope to find a face they recognise.

"We continue to urge the appropriate governing bodies to intervene where they can to help safely return the remaining hostages. Urgent humanitarian assistance is still required to Iraq & Syria as the internally displaced person's crises deepens."

Additional reporting by Reuters

related articles
Who are the Assyrian Christians?
Who are the Assyrian Christians?

Who are the Assyrian Christians?

Islamic State executes three more Assyrian Christians in latest video
Islamic State executes three more Assyrian Christians in latest video

Islamic State executes three more Assyrian Christians in latest video

ISIS threatens to kill 180 Assyrian Christians held hostage
ISIS threatens to kill 180 Assyrian Christians held hostage

ISIS threatens to kill 180 Assyrian Christians held hostage

\'Convert or die, the caliphate is here\': \'ISIS\' message to Assyrian Christians in Sweden
'Convert or die, the caliphate is here': 'ISIS' message to Assyrian Christians in Sweden

'Convert or die, the caliphate is here': 'ISIS' message to Assyrian Christians in Sweden

Thousands of Christians flee as ISIS advances into ancient Assyrian heartlands

Thousands of Christians flee as ISIS advances into ancient Assyrian heartlands

News
Scots urged to reject ‘extreme’ assisted suicide legislation
Scots urged to reject ‘extreme’ assisted suicide legislation

Scottish voters are being urged to contact their MSPs ahead of a Stage One vote in Holyrood next week. 

Jeremy Clarkson warns Christianity is 'in danger' amid falling birth rates
Jeremy Clarkson warns Christianity is 'in danger' amid falling birth rates

Broadcaster and columnist Jeremy Clarkson has issued a stark warning about the future of Christianity, suggesting that a sharp decline in birth rates across the Western world could pose an existential threat to the faith’s long-term survival.

Trump denies any involvement in AI pope image amid Catholic backlash
Trump denies any involvement in AI pope image amid Catholic backlash

The controversy erupted just days before a historic Vatican conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis.

More churches embrace AI in ministry but pastors prefer to write their own sermons - study
More churches embrace AI in ministry but pastors prefer to write their own sermons - study

More churches across the U.S. are embracing the use of Artificial Intelligence in their ministries, but pastors have stopped short of using the technology to prepare their sermons, data from the State of the Church Tech 2025 report shows.