ISIS demands $30 million in exchange for Assyrian hostages

Terror group is demanding $100,000 for the release of each Syrian Christian hostage.

By ARIEL COHEN
Assyrians hold banners as they march in solidarity with the Assyrians abducted by Islamic State fighters in Syria earlier this week (photo credit: REUTERS)
Assyrians hold banners as they march in solidarity with the Assyrians abducted by Islamic State fighters in Syria earlier this week
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Islamic State group has set a demand of a $30 million ransom for the release of hundreds of Christian hostages in their captivity in Syria.
The terrorist organization is demanding up to $100,000 per individual, according to a report over the weekend from Fox News. The group captured between 250-300 Christians on February 23 in the Northern Hasaka province of Syria, an area native to the country’s Christian population.
The demands came during ongoing talks between the Assyrian leadership and ISIS fighters. Third-party Syrian Sunni Muslims are reportedly brokering the talks between the two sides. A total of 23 hostages have been released to date. Reports further indicate that ISIS is using these Christians as human shields in military confrontations.
“They know we cannot come up with this kind of money, so they are hoping other groups and countries will come up with the money,” FOX quoted an Assyrian official as saying.
In addition to the kidnapping of the hundreds of Assyrian Christians, Islamic State has also destroyed numerous churches and Christian holy sites in the region.