Italian hostages Greta Ramelli
and Vanessa Marzullo disappeared at Abizmu in northern Syria at
the end of July 2014.
According to informed sources with whom ANSA was in
constant contact during the case, the two young women were held
all the time in the region where they were kidnapped, in the
Abizmu countryside, an area near Aleppo outside the control of
both troops of the Syrian regime and Al Qaida militiamen where
as many as six armed groups and other minor outfits were active.
It is not excluded that the two young women were sold on by
the kidnappers, a group according to the well-informed Lebanese
press close to the Damascus regime who may have been attracted
to the region as part of a prepared plan to kidnap the Italians
and demand a ransom.
The recent condemnation by an 'Islamic tribunal' of the
Nureddin Zenki Movement, one of the militias already indicated
as involved in the kidnapping, identifies Hussam Atrash,
described as a local warlord and head of the local Ansar al
Islam group, as one of the key players in the affair.
The turning point in the ordeal came December 31, 2014,
with a video that was viewed around the world. "We beg our
government to bring us home" was the request of the two Italian
volunteers. Two weeks later, January 15, 2015, their request was
fulfilled.
The announcement of their release came with a tweet from
Palazzo Chigi, confirming a tip on Al Jazeera television
according to which they were released by the al Nusra Front, the
Syrian branch of Al Qaida.
In Italy alongside the joy of the families and relief of
the government a furore erupted over the presumed ransom paid to
the kidnappers, said by Northern League leader Matteo Salvini to
amount to 12 million euros.
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