The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) has released 50 Assyrians among a large group of Christians snatched 10 weeks ago near the Syrian city of Homs, the Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights (AMHR) reported.
The freed indigenous Christians arrived back on October 12 at their Syriac towns of Zaidan and Fairozeh, Sweden-based AMHR confirmed.
More than 200 Christians were abducted when IS militants overran the Syrian town of Qaryatain in the first week of August. The IS still reportedly holds scores of Christians from the town, including 75 women and a number of children.
On September 4, IS had released 15 Assyrians from the same group after forcing them to pay the jizya, an Islamic submission tax.
Quoting Assyria TV, the Assyrian International News Agency specified that 185 Assyrians from Qaryatain remain prisoners of the jihadi group.
The reported hostage release comes a week after an IS video was posted, showing IS militants gunning down three Assyrian Christians captured in Syria’s Hassaka province in February.
They threatened to execute more of the murdered Christians’ fellow hostages, at least 185, unless a ransom of $50,000 each is paid.