The
following excerpts are from AINA.org:
(AINA)
-- Assyrian church leader are reporting that ISIS has rejected a
ransom offer for the 230 Assyrians it captured on February 23 in the
Hasaka province of Syria (AINA 2015-02-23). 253 Assyrians were
captured in the initial attacks on the 35 Assyrian villages on the
Khabur river. 23 were subsequently released but 230 remain in
captivity, including 52 children, 84 females and 95 males.
ISIS
has demanded 100,000 US dollars for each hostage, for a total of 23
million.
Leading
the negotiations with ISIS is Bishop Mellis of Australia. In an
interview with SBS Radio in Australia, Bishop Mellis said:
We
are a poor nation. These people have not done anything wrong and
won't harm anyone. We as Assyrians do not have this amount of money
you are asking for.
We
offered an amount of money that we cannot disclose at this time. With
the amount we offered, we thought it was acceptable, to have the
return of the 230 people
After
two days, they (ISIS) told us, "the amount the church offered
was not acceptable. From now on, we will no longer negotiate with
you.
The
hostages have been moved to Raqqa, the ISIS stronghold in Syria, and
are now awaiting trial in Islamic court under Sharia law, where a
Muslim judge will decide their fate. Desperate church leaders have
pleaded for assistance neighboring countries, including Turkey, in
securing the release of the Assyrian hostages.
Read
more by clicking below:
ISIS Demands $23 Million for Assyrian Hostages, Vigil Held in Australia
