Syrian rebels release Greek Orthodox nuns in prisoner exchange deal

 
Out of captivity: one of the 13 Greek Orthodox nuns speaks at a press conference after arriving at Jdeidet Yabous in Syria today
10 March 2014

Thirteen Greek Orthodox nuns held for four months by Syrian rebel fighters have been released in exchange for the Syrian government freeing dozens of female prisoners.

The release of the nuns and three female helpers is a rare case of a successful deal between President Bashar Assad’s regime and the rebels.

A convoy of 30 cars delivered the women to the Syrian town of Jdeidet Yabous, near Lebanon, today after a nine-hour journey which crossed the border at least twice.

Mother Superior Pelagia Sayaf, the head of the Saint Thecla convent in Maaloula, north of Damascus, said: “We arrived late, and we arrived tired.” She said the nuns had been treated well although they did not feel comfortable wearing crucifixes.

Lebanese general Abbas Ibrahim, who oversaw the deal, said about 150 female prisoners would be released.

Syrian rebels, including members of the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, seized the nuns and their helpers from the convent after they overran the Christian village of Maaloula in December.

Amnesty International today accused the Syrian government of committing war crimes by blockading and starving the southern Damascus neighbourhood of Yarmouk. It estimates that 200 people have died of hunger-related illnesses.

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