19 Assyrians Released By Islamic State, But Hundreds Remain Captured

19 Assyrians Released By Islamic State, But Hundreds Remain Captured
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST and the ASSIST News Service
HASAKA, SYRIA (ANS – March 1, 2015) -- 19 Assyrians that were captured from the Syrian village of Tel Goran, have been released by Islamic State, also known as ISIS, and have arrived safely at St. Mary's Church in Hasaka, Syria.
According to the Assyrian International News Agency (www.aina.org), negotiations for their release had been ongoing for three days and were mediated by local Arab tribal leaders.
“Of the 19 that were released, 17 were women and 2 were men, said a spokesperson for AINA. “But not all who were captured from Tel Goran were released. One of the hostages, an elderly woman, said that ISIS did not release her son and two other men who were guarding the village.
“ISIS also refused to release a six-year-old girl. According to reports from the released hostages, Islamic State (ISIS) said it plans to use the girl as a bargaining chip. The girl's mother was released but would not leave her daughter behind and stayed with her.”
The spokesman told the ASSIST News Service, “The hostages looked tired and disheveled but were otherwise unharmed.”
According to AINA, the number of Assyrians captured by Islamic State is between 262 and 373. With the release of this group of 19, the number still being held by this terror group remains in the hundreds.
According to Assyrian leaders, negotiations for the release of the remainder of the hostages are ongoing.
The hostages were taken when Islamic State fighters attacked the Assyrian villages of Tel Goran, Tel Hurmiz, Tel Tamar, Tel Baloaa Tel Shamiran, Tel Riman, Tel Nasra, Tel Khareta, Tel Jazira, Tel Fweidat, Qaber Shamiyeh and Abu Tena.
“Nine Assyrian fighters died defending their villages in the initial attacks and there are reports that ISIS has executed at least 12 Assyrian fighters who were captured, two of them women,” said the AINA spokesperson.
The majority of the Assyrians were captured from Tel Shamiran, Tel Hurmiz, Tel Goran and Tel Jazira in Syria. Nearly 3000 Assyrians have fled from the 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur river to Hasaka and Qamishli.
"There is a critical need for shelter for the refugees,” added the spokesperson for AINA.
On hearing of the original attack, Assyrians held protests in three world cities recently to call attention to the ISIS attacks on Assyrians in Khabur, Syria, which have resulted in the capture of up to 373 Assyrians by ISIS and the destruction of churches in the 35 Assyrian villages in the Khabur river in the Hasaka province of Syria. At least 9 Assyrian fighters died in the initial attacks and 12 who were captured by ISIS are feared to have been executed.
Protests were held in Beirut, Stockholm, and San Francisco and a candle light vigil was scheduled for Phoenix this Sunday, and other protests are planned for this week.
Photo captions: 1) Two of the hostages chat with the local priest at the church. 2) An elderly woman hostage who has been freed. 3) St. Bishu Church in the Assyrian Village of Tel Shamiran, Syria, now occupied by Islamic State
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