Kidnapped US journalist freed in Syria
An American journalist kidnapped nearly two years ago has
been freed in Syria
following Qatari mediation and handed over to United Nations peacekeepers in
the Golan Heights .
Peter Theo Curtis was handed over to UN peacekeepers in the
village of al-Rafid, Quneitra, on Sunday. He has since been turned over to
representatives from the United
States government after undergoing medical
check-up, the UN said.
According to Al-Jazeera, Curtis' family thanked both the governments of the
According to a statement from his family, Curtis was
captured in October 2012 and was reportedly held by the al-Nusra Front or by
splinter groups allied with the al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was relieved Curtis
was returing home, before laying blame on al-Nusra Front for the kidnapping.
"We are all relieved and grateful knowing that Theo
Curtis is coming home after so much time held in the clutches of [al-Nusrah
Front], he said.
Kerry also said the US was using "every
diplomatic, intelligence, and military tool" available to release other
Americans held hostage.
"Qatar
exerted relentless efforts to release the American journalist, out of Qatar 's belief
in the principles of humanity and its keenness on the lives of individuals and
their right to freedom and dignity."
Footage of the American was released on June 30, showing a
disheveled Curtis with long hair and beard, but appearing to be in good health.
Speaking in a video obtained by Al Jazeera, Curtis read from
a prepared script stating his name and profession, saying he was a journalist
from Boston , Massachusetts .
Commenting on his treatment, Curtis said he "had
everything" he needed and "everything has been perfect, food,
clothing, even friends now".
In June, a 27-year-old German held hostage by Islamic State
fighters was released after Berlin
reportedly made a deal with the group.
According to German newspaper die Welt am Sonntag,
"something was given in return for his release".
Earlier this year, 13 nuns were freed after being kidnapped
by Syrian rebels following Lebanese-Qatari mediation, ending a three-month
ordeal in a rare prisoner exchange with the government.
Curtis' release comes just days after the beheading of US journalist James Foley, who was captured in Syria in 2012.
On Tuesday, the Islamic State group released a graphic video
on social media sites, showing one of its fighters beheading Foley, which it
said was revenge for US raids on its territory.
In the video, titled "A Message To America," the
group claimed to be holding another US
journalist, and said his life depended on US President Barack Obama's next
move.
"The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on
your next decision," said a masked man in the video posted on social media
sites, speaking English with a British accent as he held a prisoner the video
named as Steven Sotloff.
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