IS allows 37 Assyrian Christians freely

Terror group Islamic State 37, especially older Assyrian Christians freed abducted since February. It reported two human rights groups in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (which uses a network of local activists in Syria) reports that chiefs of several Arab tribes have mediated for the release. There was also "a significant amount" paid.

According to the Assyrian Human Rights Network, the 37 elderly hostages arrived in Tel Tamer and are in "good condition." On Facebook, the group posted pictures of the reception:

Around 215 Assyrian Christians were kidnapped in February by IS from villages along a river strategically located in the mainly Kurdish-populated province of Al hassaka. Now been released there are 88. About the others would still be negotiated. According to the observatory all prisoners "who do not fight against IS" also released. Last month, three men from the group killed by IS, said the two human rights groups.

© nrc.nl/nieuws/Eva Narrow