Families of Hostages Taken by ISIL Slam State Procrastination, Warn of Escalation

Nizam Mogheit, the brother of soldier Ibrahim who was taken hostage by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, lashed out on Thursday at the state's procrastination in the case of the captives held by the group, warning that they will escalate their moves.

“The families of hostages taken by ISIL will escalate their moves as there is no seriousness in finding a solution to the case,” Mogheit said in a statement.

He wondered if politicians adopted a policy of “calming the families via media leaks.”

Mogheit said that ISIL abducted the men 10 months ago, stressing that the government “did nothing” in this regard.

“How can we believe that negotiations are serious if they are incapable of bringing a video recording of the captives?”

Media reports had said that negotiations with the ISIL reached a dead end after the group placed tough conditions to release the servicemen in its captivity.

A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Nusra Front and IS group gunmen in the wake of clashes in Arsal in August.

A few of them have since been released, four were executed, and the rest remain held.

The captors have been demanding the release of Islamist prisoners held in Lebanon as a condition to set them free.

Media reports said recently that al-Nusra Front handed over to the Qatari appointed mediator a list of its demands in return for the release of the Lebanese soldiers and policemen in its captivity.

H.K.

G.K.