Syrian friar released by al-Nusra front

A Franciscan priest that was abducted by Syrian rebels has been released and is now under house arrest in a convent.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Custody of the Holy Land issued a statement on October 9 that said that: "Fr. Hanna Jallouf has been released this morning." The group added that the Friar is now at a convent of Qunaya.

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The 62-year-old Syrian native was kidnapped during the night of October 5 by terrorists who may be linked to the al-Nusra Front.

Jallouf was abducted along with 20 parishioners from Qunaya, located in Idlib province.

Currently, reports of where the other parishioners are being held are conflicting.

Bishop Georges Abou Khazen, O.F.M. and vicar apostolic of Aleppo, said that "we know that (Fr. Jallouf) is well, and this is important, but there is no news of the release of the men who were kidnapped with him."

Four women were among the abducted group, but they were released on October 8.

The Franciscans have had a presence in Syria for over 800 years, and have been in Qunaya since 1878.

Since the Syrian civil war began back in 2011, there have been numerous attacks on Christian denominations and communities.

Back in April, Friar Frans van der Lugt, S.J., was murdered in Homs while he was caring for the less than 30 Christians who still had remained in the city. The Dutchman had been working in Syria since 1967, and was heavily involved in inter-religious dialogue.

In December of last year, a group of Greek Orthodox nuns and women from their convent's orphanage were abducted by the al-Nusra Front, just 35 miles north of Damascus. They were released unharmed in March.

In also last year, in April, the Greek and Syriac Orthodox bishops of Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi and Yuhanna Ibrahim, were kidnapped. Fatha' Allah Kabboud, their driver, was killed, and rumors are circling that only one of the bishops is still alive.

The three year civil war has resulted in more than three million Syrians fleeing to nearby countries, including Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan.

Six-and-a-half million Syrians are also believed to have been displaced internally by the war.

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