Christian Persecution by ISIS Not Stopping Despite Recent Release of Hostages - Report

Lorraine Caballero Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Anwar Tarawneh (2nd R), the wife captive Jordanian pilot Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh, and his sister (R) weep after listening to a statement released by ISIS in front of the Royal Palace in Amman Jan. 28, 2015. | REUTERS

ISIS released 43 Christian hostages this week, but One News Now (ONN) says the group will not stop persecuting Christians anytime soon.

The 43 Assyrian Christians who had been held captive by ISIS for a year sang hymns of praise after their release earlier this week. The Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization (ACERO) helped make their release possible, according to Christian Today.

The group was among the more than a hundred other Assyrian Christians kidnapped by ISIS in northern Syria last year. ACERO has not divulged the amount of money given to the militants in exchange for the hostages, but an anonymous source told AP that they received millions of dollars as ransom. The terror group initially demanded US $100,000 per person but later lowered the ransom, the report details.

A Demand for Action (ADFA), a group campaigning for minority groups in the Middle East, said they will begin pushing the United Nations to recognize the "genocide" being committed against the displaced individuals. The group also said they will now help the victims rebuild their lives once again.

ACERO says the release of the last batch of Christians abducted by ISIS is a "light of hope," but it does not mean that the militant group will stop persecuting Christians. The ransom they received will give them more power to continue persecuting and killing Christians who go against their views, analysts have stated.

In an interview with ONN, International Christian Concern (ICC) director of advocacy, Nate Lance, expressed joy in having the Christian hostages freed. However, he also urged that steps needed to be taken to prevent ransoms from being paid to ISIS in the future.

"A larger international response is required to keep more situations like this from happening, but in the short term, we are at least pleased that so many of these were returned safe and sound," Lance told ONN.

In addition, Lance conveyed his hope that the U.S. government will do something to prevent ISIS from further terrorizing people.