They’re acting in full accord with Islamic law. Here is a salient passage on this issue from a Shafi’i manual of Islamic law:
When an adult male is taken captive, the caliph considers the interests … (of Islam and the Muslims) and decides between the prisoner’s death, slavery, release without paying anything, or ransoming himself in exchange for money or for a Muslim captive held by the enemy. (Umdat al-Salik o9.14)
A revered Islamic jurist, Al-Mawardi, agrees with Umdat al-Salik:
As for the captives, the amir has the choice of taking the most beneficial action of four possibilities: the first, to put them to death by cutting their necks; the second, to enslave them and apply the laws of slavery regarding their sale or manumission; the third, to ransom them in exchange for goods or prisoners; and fourth, to show favor to them and pardon them. (Al-Ahkam As-Sultaniyyah (The Laws of Islamic Governance), 4.5)
“ISIS Demands $23 Million for Assyrian Hostages, Vigil Held in Australia,” AINA, May 1, 2015 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
(AINA) — Assyrian church leader are reporting that ISIS has rejected a ransom offer for the 230 Assyrians it captured on February 23 in the Hasaka province of Syria (AINA 2015-02-23). 253 Assyrians were captured in the initial attacks on the 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur river. 23 were subsequently released but 230 remain in captivity, including 52 children, 84 females and 95 males.
ISIS has demanded 100,000 US dollars for each hostage, for a total of 23 million.
Leading the negotiations with ISIS is Bishop Mellis of Australia. In an interview with SBS Radio in Australia, Bishop Mellis said:
We are a poor nation. These people have not done anything wrong and won’t harm anyone. We as Assyrians do not have this amount of money you are asking for.
We offered an amount of money that we cannot disclose at this time. With the amount we offered, we thought it was acceptable, to have the return of the 230 people
After two days, they (ISIS) told us, “the amount the church offered was not acceptable. From now on, we will no longer negotiate with you.
The hostages have been moved to Raqqa, the ISIS stronghold in Syria, and are now awaiting trial in Islamic court under Sharia law, where a Muslim judge will decide their fate. Desperate church leaders have pleaded for assistance neighboring countries, including Turkey, in securing the release of the Assyrian hostages.
mortimer says
Western politicians all need a copy of Sharia law, so they can verify that Islam is truly barbaric.
The manual of Sharia law is largely preoccupied with SLAVERY.
Does this not trouble Western politicians about Islam? It should.
Michael Copeland says
Tell your representative the Manual of Islamic Law is available as a free download.
http://www.islamicbulletin.org/free_downloads/…/reliance2_complete.pdf
Shane says
We do need to educate all the non-Muslims in the West about just how barbaric Islamic sharia law really is. Hundreds of millions of Muslims like sharia law.
Pew Poll, Muslims Like Sharia Law: http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-overview/
Stop Sharia Law in Britian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-KHHKuVVRc
RonaldB says
Sorry, Michael. The link doesn’t work. It either got corrupted or taken down.
Rob Porter says
Mortimer, try write to politicians in your country. In Canada, regarding Islam, immigration of Muslims and other things Islam-related I’ve written to Prime MInister Stephen Harper, Minister of Immigration and former Minister of Immigration, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Not once have I received a decent response, let alone a response from the politician to whom I mailed the letter, but I have received from a couple of bureaucrats in Ottawa some empty-headed, politically correct drivel. These Western politicians aren’t really interested and think they know better than us – and Robert Spencer. It truly is like flogging a dead horse.
Matthieu Baudin says
“… ISIS has demanded 100,000 US dollars for each hostage, for a total of 23 million …”
And I demand that Baghdadi cease all hostilities immediately, in exchange for the quick trial of his men.
Godwin says
I am glad to give them 23 millions in hell notes, so that when they die they can use it in hell to buy favors n food.
Westman says
A thought after reading about Quranic prescriptions for war:
If the West conducted war like Islamic doctrines prescribe, it would deal with ISIS and its cousins by forming a coalition of Non-Islamic states and go through the ISIS areas with MOABs, heavy armor, Howitzers, and other mass-destructive means; following Muhammad’s method of “no prisoners” until the area is securely under control. There would be no ransoms paid or prisoners exchanged. There could be thousands of innocents lost. Would that loss be far less than the millions that will be lost to ISIS brutality in the future?
duh_swami says
‘The future must not belong to those who slander the Prophet of Islam’…Looks like ISIS got the message. Christians by their very existence slander Islam…Their chances of surviving the ravages of Allah carried out by his savages, is zero to none…No one has the ability or the gonads to interfere…
Charli Main says
Send that Muslim vermin the money in the shape of a laser guided smart bomb.
Taxpayer money well spent.
RonaldB says
Although an atheist, I would join any local marches protesting and calling attention to the treatment of Christians under Islam and IS in particular.
There don’t seem to be any.
Where are the churches?
particolor says
“Gone To Graveyards Everyone !!”
When will they ever learn? When will they EVER Learn ? 🙁
zulu says
The horrifying moment ISIS extremists throw a man from a roof for being gay – then watch as he is stoned to death by the baying mob below
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3065283/Drugs-alcohol-counselling-ISIS-style-Addict-drunk-whipped-Islamic-State.html#ixzz3Z0IIiStf
RG says
Blood-thirsty fear-mongers! Hell can’t swallow them up fast enough! There’s no “religion” more evil than the vicious blood-cult of mohammedanism!!!!
Bowie says
Perhaps they think those whom they demand the ransom from, are multi-millionaires!
particolor says
Apparently !!
But You give Hostage Takers NOTHING EVER !!
They make a Business of it and Spit in Your Face !!
Jerry says
It is a matter of urgent justice that we extend to the Muslims exactly whatever courtesies they extend to non-Muslims, especially under IS and Boko Haram.
particolor says
Extend to the Muslim Bludgers…NO WELFARE HERE ! ….Now move along !!