Turkish Hostage Released After Ransom Paid

AP:

Kidnappers have released a wealthy Turkish businessman after holding him hostage in Iraq for two months, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Kahraman Sadikoglu, president of the Istanbul-based Tuzla Shipyard, was released late Monday, and flown to Baghdad after spending the evening at a British base in southern Iraq, a Foreign Ministry official said. He was scheduled to return to Turkey later Tuesday through Jordan.

The ministry official did not give further details, but newspaper reports said Sadikoglu was released after his family paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom.

It must be a terribly difficult situation to be in having a loved one held hostage. On the one hand, there is the need of the family to see their family members returned home safe and sound. On the other hand, the act of paying ransom may have the effect of inspiring other groups to try the same tactic.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:09 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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