ISIS Releases 16 More Christian Hostages

Sixteen Assyrian Christian hostages have been released by ISIS.

The Assyrian Christian Church of the East Relief Organization (ACERO) announced the news today on their Facebook page.

The 16 hostages, mostly children, were released after having been kidnapped during an ISIS raid of northern Syrian last February.

They were among more than 200 people who were abducted by jihadists from villages along the Khabour River last year. ISIS had been conducting strategic raids on Assyrian villages near Tel Hamar, destroying churches and families.

After the kidnappings ISIS released a video showing the murder of three captives in October, and threatened to kill the remaining if a $23 million ransom was not paid.

When the Assyrian community could not afford the release of their families, the ransom was lowered to $12-$14 million.

To date, ISIS has released over 160 captives, and activists groups on the ground are working around the clock for the liberation of all the hostages.

A Demand for Action (ADFA), a group that campaigns for the protection of Middle East minorities, told Christian Today that they are working "day and night to make sure all are returned to their families safely."

ADFA activists are excited for the release of more families, but question if Middle East Christians will ever live without fear of violence again.

ADFA spokeswoman Diana Yacqo said, "We don't know what the future holds for us in the Middle East. Our history and churches have been destroyed, our people are fleeing and kidnapped. It's literally a nightmare situation and yet still nobody wants to help."

Activists are frustrated by the relentless silence from the international community and local governments.

"The United Nations has neglected the situation, our pleas to our respective governments have gone unnoticed, we just seem to be the forgotten people of those lands" Yacqo said.

ISIS continues to raid more ancient Assyrian cities dating back 2,000 years, and Assyrian Christians are doing everything they can to win their families' freedom