Four Christian aid workers kidnapped in Iraq have been released
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – It is confirmed that four French Christian aid workers have been freed after they were kidnapped in Iraq in January. A statement from President Marcron’s office on March 27 informed that the Élysée Palace had made “every effort to reach this outcome.” The statement thanked Iraqi authorities for their cooperation but gave no details or information about any conditions of the workers’ release.
The hostages were released the day after France announced on March 25 that it would withdraw its troops due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Aid workers Antoine Brochon, Julien Dittmar, Alexandre Goodarzy and Iraqi national Tariq Madoka had been in Iraq with the SOS Chretiens d’Orient (Christians in the Middle East) charity when they were abducted in Baghdad on January 20. The Catholic charity has been helping to rebuild Christian communities in Iraq since 2014, after mass displacement occurred during the reign of ISIS.
In a statement, SOS Chretiens d’Orient said no group had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and no demand for a ransom had been received.