Iraqi-Swedish Christian Hostage Released
An Iraqi-Swedish Christian politician who was held hostage in Baghdad since January, was released unharmed, according to Swedish authorities.
An Iraqi-Swedish Christian politician who was held hostage in Baghdad since early February was released unharmed, according to Swedish authorities.
Minas Ibrahim al-Yousifi, who is the head of the Christian Democratic party in Iraq, had been captured by a group called the Martyrs of al-Isawy Brigades.
In a videotape released in early March, he was shown with a rifle pointed at his head. He pleaded for his life and called out to the king of Sweden and Pope John Paul II for help.
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The kidnappers had initially demanded $4 million for Yousifi’s release. It was later lowered to $400,000 but Swedish authorities could not confirm whether the amount had been paid.
After being released, he had a chance to speak with his family by phone, said Swedish lawmaker Cecilia Wikstroem
“He was very relieved but worn out,” said Wikstroem, according to the Associated Press.
The Foreign Ministry of Sweden had not commented much on the case, only saying that it was going through diplomatic means to negotiate the hostage’s release.
There had been complaints by his family and Swedish Christian Democrat politician Goran Hagglund that the local media were indifferent to Yousifi’s capture because he was not a native Swede.
Yousifi was granted asylum in Sweden 20 years ago to escape persecution under the regime of Saddam Hussein.
