Daesh releases last group of Syrian christians kidnapped in 2015

Published February 22nd, 2016 - 03:00 GMT
A Syrian woman holds up a copy of the Muslim holy Quran next to a Christian icons, during a demonstration in the capital Damascus on November 28, 2011. (AFP/File)
A Syrian woman holds up a copy of the Muslim holy Quran next to a Christian icons, during a demonstration in the capital Damascus on November 28, 2011. (AFP/File)

Daesh has released the last group of Assyrian Christians who were taken hostage last year, a Christian official in northeast Syria told the Associated Press.

About 40 remaining captives were released and were on their way to the tow of Tal Tamr, according to Younan Talia of the Assyrian Democratic Organization.

Last year about 230 Assyrian Christians were captured by the militants after Assyrian communities were overrun by Daesh in Syria's northeastern Hassakeh province.

Younan says the captives' release came about after a mediation led by a top Assyrian priest.

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