[ad_1]
Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda was released in Syria after a three-year kidnapping and taken to Turkey, his neighbor. He was taken hostage in 2015 by the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda. That's what Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said on Wednesday.
Japan's embassies in southern Turkey visited Yasuda, Minister Kono said Wednesday at a press conference. "He seems to be in good health, he can return to Japan under the green light of our medical staff."
In the face of reporters, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe thanked the governments of Qater and Turkey, who participated at the liberation of Yasuda. According to the Japanese government, no ransom has been paid.
The Japanese journalist, who works as a freelancer, reportedly went missing in 2015 after traveling alone between Turkey and neighboring Syria. According to the US press agency AP, Yasuda has been held hostage by several parties. His last captors reportedly belonged to the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIM).
Yasuda has been working in the Middle East since 2000 and was kidnapped in Iraq in 2004. At that time, he was with three Japanese colleagues. (NRC)
Source link
