“As for the captives, the amir [ruler] 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 and manumission; the third, to ransom them in exchange for goods or prisoners; and fourth, to show favor to them and pardon them. Allah, may he be exalted, says, ‘When you encounter those [infidels] who deny [the Truth=Islam] then strike [their] necks’ (Qur’an sura 47, verse 4)” — Al-Mawardi, al-Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah (The Laws of Islamic Governance).
“88-year-old Australian doctor freed 7 years after kidnapping by Islamic extremists in West Africa,” by Rod McGuirk, Associated Press, May 19, 2023:
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An 88-year-old Australian doctor held captive by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than seven years has been freed and has returned to Australia.
Ken Elliott was safe and well and was reunited with his wife and their children on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“I’m very pleased to advise that Dr. Ken Elliott, who’s been held hostage in Western Africa for some seven years, has been reunited in Australia with his family,” Wong told reporters in Sydney.
Elliott and his wife were kidnapped in Burkina Faso, where they had run a medical clinic for four decades. Jocelyn Elliott was released three weeks later.
“We wish to express our thanks to God and all who have continued to pray for us,” Elliott’s family said in a statement released by Wong’s department.
“We express our relief that Dr. Elliott is free and thank the Australian government and all who have been involved over time to secure his release,” the family statement said.
Wong said no ransom was paid to secure Elliott’s freedom, but no other details on his release were disclosed. Media reported he was reunited with his family in Perth, the west coast city where he is from….
Linde B. says
What could possibly be a motive in holding
a medical doctor captive for any length of time? These jihadists are really morons in addition to being barbaric terrorists. They are anti-life and should be called “Anti-Life Muslim Jihadists”. That is a great “political” name for them and the media should refer to them with that title.
Phil Copson says
“What could possibly be a motive in holding a medical doctor captive for any length of time?”
Presumably for the free medical services for themselves and to charge others for his services?
Cuba raises money by conscripting Cubans to receive medical training, and then selling their services and despatching them around the globe to other unsavoury regimes as a form of slave labour.
Ray Jarman says
I am very grateful for his release. Those seven years must have been a terrible ordeal and may God be pleased with this man. It is not often that Robert provides a story with a happy ending.
Tatanka says
Evil Islamic bastards, and then the western world brings these vile cockroaches into their countries by the millions.
Stupid fecks.
Josephus says
So, this doctor got freedom under the new pro Islamic Labor government. I remember when a previous Labor PM, Julia Gillard donated $500,000,000 to mostly Muslim countries, just before her term as in government finished. Is this a matter of sctratch my back and I will scratch yours ?
Lenny Leaps In says
I wonder how much Australian taxpayer’s money was exchanged for his release? After all, he was a prize catch – he provided medical aid for wounded Jihadists, and money for the Jihadists when they agreed to release him….