Syrian Regime Frees Several Women Prisoners as Demanded by Kidnappers of Pilgrims

A number of women jailed by the Syrian regime were released on Friday, including several whose names are on a list set by the kidnappers of Lebanese pilgrims in Aazaz.

According to the state-run National News agency, the “humanitarian initiative” was to mark the month of Ramadan.

The news agency said that General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim is exerting efforts to press Turkish authorities to cooperate further to end the case.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 as they were making their way back by land to Lebanon from pilgrimage in Iran.

Two of the captives have since been released, while the rest remain held in Aazaz.

The abductors have demanded in May the release of 282 women detainees from Syrian prisons in return for the release of the Lebanese.

The families of the pilgrims have mainly held Turkey responsible for their ongoing abduction.

The families of the captives have held Turkey mainly responsible for the ongoing abduction of the men, vowing to target Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to exert efforts to release the pilgrims.

They have held numerous demonstrations near the headquarters of Turkish Airlines in Beirut as part of these actions.