Faith of the Fathers Report: Assyrian Hostages in Syria Are 'Safe', Says ISIS Member

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Assyrian Hostages in Syria Are 'Safe', Says ISIS Member

An Assyrian woman and her children who fled from Tel Tamar because of the attacks by ISIS.

The following excerpts are from AINA.org:

Hasaka, Syria (AINA) -- ISIS attacked several Assyrian villages in Syria yesterday, killing 4 Assyrian guards and kidnapping more than 90 Assyrian men, women and children, and destroying at least 4 churches (AINA 2015-02-23). About half of the abducted Assyrians were brought to the Abdul Aziz mountain, while the remainder are held captive in their villages, Tel Shamiran and Tel Jazira.

The following are the names of the Assyrians kidnapped from the village of Tel Goran:

Yikhannis Adam
Michael Mirza
Elias Mirza
Abdo Mirza
Mirza Mirza
Wegram Mirza
Fabronia Mirza
Miryana Mirza (6 Years old)
Wegram Mirza (Unconfirmed)
George Ishmael
Ishmael Ishmael
Joseph Ishmael (Unconfirmed)
George Esho
Salem Dashto
Aweya Zaya
Joseph Zaya
Joel Zaya (Unconfirmed)
Tato Odisho
Jamil Odisho
George Odisho
Jamil Kolyat
Awiya Wegram
Joseph Esho
Najma Youkhanna
Mirza Khaya (Unconfirmed)
5 unnamed women

AINA spoke by telephone to Matthew*, an Assyrian in Hasaka, who said that his very close friend Nabil*, a Muslim Arab, expressed sorrow and sympathy for the kidnapped Assyrians. According to Matthew, Nabil is not a member of ISIS but he knows many local Syrians who have joined ISIS. Nabil said he would make inquiries. Nabil called two local Arabs who are members of ISIS and inquired about the condition of the Assyrian hostages. The local ISIS members said the hostages are "safe" and in "good condition" and will be released within a few days.

But given the history of the brutality of ISIS, Matthew said he doubts the hostages would be released.