ASIA/IRAQ - In Baghdad, Christians kidnapped and killed despite the payment of ransom

Friday, 10 July 2015

Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - In two weeks, four Iraqi Christians have been kidnapped in Baghdad, and two of them unfortunately were killed: after the payment of the ransom, they were found dead by the police. The body of Quais Abdul Shaya was given back to the family, even though they had paid the kidnappers a ransom amounting to 25 thousand dollars. The same fate happened to Saher Hanna, who worked at the Ministry of the Interior. Another Christian was freed by kidnappers after family members had paid them a sum of 50 thousand dollars, while only Dr. Bashar al-Ghanem Akrawi was released thanks to an operation of the police in the hideout where he was held prisoner.
The escalation of crimes targeted against Christians in the Iraqi capital is one of the factors that contribute to making their situation painful and precarious. The Christian MP Imad Youkhana Yako, on Thursday, July 9 issued a press release – sent to Agenzia Fides - in order to urge his colleagues and security forces to assume their responsibilities with respect to a phenomenon that "is part of intimidations suffered by Christian members and contributes to undermining the unity of Iraqi society". (GV) (Agenzia Fides 10/07/2015)


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