Iraq: release of three French hostages and one Iraqi from the NGO SOS Chrétiens d'Orient

Text by: RFI Follow

In Baghdad, three French members of the NGO SOS Chrétiens d'Orient and their Iraqi translator were released. It was the French presidency that announced it in the evening in a press release. These 4 men have been missing since January 20, without the reason for the abduction having ever been officially announced.

Publicity

Throughout these two months, SOS Chrétiens d'Orient remained very discreet about this disappearance, as did the Quai d'Orsay. Last week, the NGO had simply indicated that it had heard nothing from its four missing members, without message or claim.

In its press release, the Elysée " welcomes the release of Antoine Brochon, Julien Dittmar, Alexandre Goodarzy and the Iraqi Tariq Mattoka ". The message is brief and does not provide more information on the circumstances of their kidnapping and release: " France has made every effort to achieve this outcome, " said the statement. " The President of the Republic expresses his gratitude to the Iraqi authorities for their cooperation ".

The three French, presented as experienced humanitarian workers, disappeared on January 20. A few days later, the NGO SOS Chrétien d'Orient announced that its members had disappeared " around the French Embassy " in Baghdad.

The Iraqi capital was then shaken by demonstrations denouncing the carelessness of the leaders, the influence of Iran or the presence of American troops in the country. Arrests of demonstrators were then common.

In a message on its Twitter account, the association is delighted with the release of its 4 employees and " warmly thanks the French authorities for their work as well as the Iraqi authorities ".

4⃣🆘 # SOSChrétiensdOrient welcomes and is delighted with the release of its 4 collaborators who disappeared on January 20 in Baghdad, in 🇮🇶 # Iraq.

The association warmly thanks the French authorities for their work, as well as the Iraqi authorities. pic.twitter.com/dgOi6Us1rN

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Iraq
• France
• Kidnappings

On the same subject

Iraq: large influx to the Shiite pilgrimage to Baghdad despite the coronavirus

Severe containment in Iraqi Kurdistan to stem the spread of the coronavirus