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Syria: Kidnapped priest set free unharmed


Fr Dihya - safe home

Fr Dihya - safe home

A Franciscan priest serving in northern Syria has been released after almost a week in the hands of allegedly jihadist kidnappers. The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, announced that Father Dhiya Aziz, a parish priest at Yacoubieh, in the north-western province of Idlib, was apparently "treated well" during his ordeal.

The Custody had had no news of the Fr Dihya since Saturday, July 4, in the late afternoon. Conflicting news had nevertheless led people to believe that he had been taken by jihadists affiliated to Al-Nusra Jabhat, which administers the emirate in the sector.

This group has denied any involvement in his kidnapping and allegedly led the police investigation in neighbouring villages which led to his liberation.

Fr Dhiya was allegedly abducted by another group jihadists eager to profit on his release. In the region, there are a plethora of groups that operate with varied interests.

On their website the Custody of the Holy Land "thanks those around the world who prayed for a successful outcome to this trial that Fr Dhiya endured, as well as the faithful of Yacoubieh, of which he is the pastor, his religious family and his family in Iraq." But they add: "The Custody does not forget that other religious are still missing in Syria and it invites everyone to continue praying for peace in this country. "

See earlier report: ICN 7 July 2015 - Syria: Franciscan priest taken away by jihadists www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=27871

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