Families of Abducted Pilgrims Hold Turkey Responsible for Delay
The families of the pilgrims abducted in Syria issued a statement on Saturday condemning the delay of their release, holding Turkey responsible for it.
They held it responsible for maintaining the pilgrims’ safety and “ensuring their safe return to Lebanon as soon as possible.”
They voiced their “complete trust in Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in guaranteeing their return.”
The pilgrims were expected to arrive in Lebanon from Turkey on Friday but logistic reasons have forced the delay, said Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.
The families demanded that the international community perform its political, humanitarian, and social duties in ensuring their release.
Charbel had stated that the delay was caused by investigations the Turkish authorities are conducting with the pilgrims.
Official Lebanese sources have however informed LBC television on Saturday that the pilgrims are still in the hands of their abductors.
They said that the pilgrims were on their way to be released, but complications arose forcing them to remain with the kidnappers in Syria.
MTV meanwhile reported Saturday that the pilgrims are in fact in Turkey.
The 11 pilgrims were kidnapped in Aleppo on Tuesday.
The Free Syrian Army has been accused of being behind the abduction, a claim it has denied.
On Thursday, the rebel army said it was making "every effort" to locate and release the pilgrims.
Conflicting reports had emerged on Friday about the exact timing of their arrival in Beirut and about whether or not they were handed over to Turkish authorities.
Media reports said that they were supposed to arrive in Beirut on Friday night.
Hizbullah and AMAL Movement issued a joint statement Friday confirming that the pilgrims are in good health and asking their families to return home and wait until morning for further news.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Ramadan, member of the opposition Syrian National Council, told MTV on Friday that “the Lebanese abductees are still in Syria.”
“The fierce Syrian shelling on border areas is hindering the handing over of the abductees to Turkey,” MTV also reported.
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