Tag: Kidnapping

Report claims 30,000 Eritreans kidnapped in 5 years

December 10, 2013 Eritrea Europe, Human rights, Kidnapping, Mussie Zerai

A report presented to the European Parliament shows that around 30,000 Eritreans have been kidnapped since 2007 and taken to the Sinai while ransom payments are demanded. The report, conducted by an Eritrean human rights activist and professors from a Dutch University, says that a total of around $600 million . . . Read More

30,000 Eritreans abducted in five years

December 5, 2013 Eritrea Eritrea, Kidnapping, Organ harvesting, Torture

Around 30,000 Eritreans have been abducted since 2007 and taken to Egypt’s Sinai, where they face torture and ransom demands, according to a study presented to the European Parliament. The study, conducted by an Eritrean human rights activist and professors from a Dutch University, says more than $600m has been . . . Read More

Boko Haram targets Christian girls

November 19, 2013 Nigeria Boko Haram, Kidnapping, Nigeria, Quran, Women

Boko Haram is abducting Christian women, converting them to Islam on pain of death and then forcing them to marry its fighters, reports Reuters. Reuters tells the story of 19-year-old Christian Hajja, who was abducted by the Islamist group in July and was then forced to work as their slave. . . . Read More

French priest ‘kidnapped’ by Nigeria’s Boko Haram in Cameroon

November 19, 2013 Cameroon Ansaru, Boko Haram, Georges Vandenbeusch, Katsina, Kidnapping, Nguetchewe, Nigeria, Sahel

A French priest abducted in northern Cameroon is said to be in the hands of Boko Haram. “I can confirm that the French priest is in the hands of Mujahideen [fighters] from Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad [Boko Haram’s Arabic name], who carried out the operation that was co-ordinated with Ansaru,” an . . . Read More

Kidnapped bishops ‘still alive’

October 29, 2013 Syria Boulos Yazigi, Kidnapping, Syria, Turkey, Yohanna Ibrahim

The two Syrian bishops kidnapped in April are believed to be alive, according to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, which says it is continuing to petition for their release. Bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi were kidnapped on April 22 after returning from the Turkish border town, Hatay. “Our efforts to rescue . . . Read More

Missing Italian priest ‘still alive’

October 2, 2013 Syria Boulos Yazigi, Europe, Islamic State, Kidnapping, Paolo Dall’Oglio, Sharia, Yohanna Ibrahim

An Italian Jesuit priest who went missing in Syria several months ago is still alive, according to an Assyrian priest speaking at the European Parliament on Tuesday (October 1). Archdeacon Emanuel Youkhana of the Assyrian Church in the East said the latest reports from inside Syria were that Father Paolo . . . Read More

Archbishop kidnapped in Nigeria

September 9, 2013 Nigeria Kidnapping

Police in Nigeria are looking for the armed men who kidnapped the country’s second most senior Anglican archbishop, Ignatius Kattey, reports the BBC. He was later freed.

Italian priest still unaccounted for in Syria

August 22, 2013 Syria Aleppo, Bashar al-Assad, Boulos Yazigi, Islamic State, Kidnapping, Paolo Dall’Oglio, Raqqa, Syria, Yohanna Ibrahim

Conflicting reports are emerging about the whereabouts and welfare of an Italian Jesuit priest who went missing almost one month ago. Reuters reported on July 29 that Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio had been abducted by Islamists with links to Al-Qaeda in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, but the Vatican would . . . Read More

Italian priest ‘kidnapped’ in Syria

August 1, 2013 Syria Al-Qaeda, Bashar al-Assad, Kidnapping, Paolo Dall’Oglio, Raqqa, Syria

An Italian Jesuit priest has been abducted in Syria by Islamists with links to al-Qaeda, Reuters has reported. Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio was reportedly kidnapped on Monday (July 29) in the rebel-held eastern Syrian city of Raqqa, which, Reuters says, has fallen under the control of militant Islamists. However, the Vatican . . . Read More

Body of kidnapped Assyrian discovered

July 17, 2013 Iraq Assyrians, Batnaya, Iraq, Kidnapping

The body of Salem Dawood Coca, an Assyrian from Batnaya in northern Iraq, was found on July 8 in the truck he was driving when he was kidnapped on May 27. The Assyrian International News Agency reports the truck was rigged with explosives, prompting speculation Coca was being forced to . . . Read More

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