Islamic State Releases 19 Christians After Ransom is Paid

Opposition groups in Syria reported on Sunday that the Islamic State (IS) terror militia has released 19 Christian hostages but still holds hundreds of others. The Assyrian Human Rights Network, a group which represents many of Syria’s Catholic communities, said the hostages had been released after paying a bribe to IS, described as a “tax” required of non-Moslems. Efforts to secure the release of the rest of the hostages were reportedly ongoing Monday.