The Assyrian Democratic Organization
Mosul(Iraq) – AINA — According to Baghdad’s radio SAWA, two kidnapped priests were released Sunday morning in the middle of the city, where they took a taxi back to the church. The ransom had been initially set at one million US dollars each.
Father Mazin Esho and Father Piyous Affas were kidnapped on Saturday, October 13, at 5:00 pm, by unknown armed individuals using civilian cars, in the Hay Al-Thawra neighborhood west of the city of Mosul.
They had gone to Hay Al-Thawra to pay their respects to one of their friends and as they left Hay Al-Thawra on their way to the Al-Fatima Virgin Church, located in Hay Al-Faisaliya in Mosul, to perform their duties in church, they were kidnapped and taken to an unknown location.
The kidnappers had agreed to release them earlier, leading to reports of their release on October 16, but they reneged on the agreement and demanded more money. The ransom amount has not been disclosed.
