Syria: Islamic State frees dozens of Assyrian Christians
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 7 November 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Syria: Islamic State frees dozens of Assyrian Christians, 7 November 2015, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/56813cf827.html [accessed 1 July 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
November 07, 2015
The Islamic State (IS) group has released 37 elderly Assyrian Christians in northeastern Syria, monitoring groups say.
The Assyrian Human Rights Network says the captives, most of them elderly, were returned to the town of Tel Tamer in the Khabur region of Hasakeh Province on November 7, and that they are in good health.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says elders from Arab tribes had mediated with the militants for their release.
The former hostages were among a group of more than 200 Assyrians captured by IS militants when they overran parts of the Khabur region in February.
A number of prisoners have since been released, with more than 120 believed to still be held by the militants.
Assyrians accounted for about 30,000 of Syria's 1.2 million Christians before the Syrian conflict erupted more than three years ago. They lived mostly in Hasakeh Province.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
