Canadians held U.S. journalists hostage in Syria
Posted Sep 3, 2014 06:36:38 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Three Canadians who joined an Al-Qaeda linked militant group in Syria were directly involved in the holding and interrogation two U.S. journalists in the region.
This is according to a report issued from the CBC.
The Canadians, whose identities are not known, are just one of many who have gone overseas to join extremist fighters.
They are believed to have taken part in the imprisonment of Theo Curtis and Matt Schrier, a pair of journalist who were held in captivity together between 2011 and 2013.
According the report, captors stole their PINs, computer passwords, and credit cards and drained their accounts.
They also wrote crude emails and letters to family members of the journalists, pretending to be the men.
This report comes just one day after the militant group ISIS released an internet video of another American journalist, Steven Sotloff, being gruesomely beheaded.
Professor of International Relations at Carleton University, Elliot Tepper, told 1310News that the Islamic State Group draws individuals in from across the world.
“The allure of ISIS and it’s related organizations on people who are fired with passion, and called to the cult of martyrdom is very strong indeed.”
The three Canadians in question are affiliated with the extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra.
Theo Curtis was released by the group last month, while Matt Schrier managed to escape a year ago.
The captors are still believed to be alive.
“Those who have gone abroad have become martyrs or intend to become martyrs, so they’re not going back,” added Tepper.
“But those who do come back indeed do pose a potential imminent threat.”
According to the report, an estimated 200-300 Canadians fighting overseas with foreign extremist fighters, primarily in Syria.
The recruitment of foreign fighters has led a number to the Islamic State Group (ISIS).
