Naharnet - American Reporter Meets One of the Kidnappers of Lebanese Pilgrims, 3 of the Captives, July 29 2012

A reporter for the American publication, The New Yorker, succeeded in meeting one of the abductors of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims, who revealed his willingness to hold negotiations over their release.

The New Yorker quoted the kidnapper, Abu Ibrahim, as saying that the abduction was aimed at sending a message to Shiites to support the Syrian people, not the regime.

He told the publication that the pilgrims were kidnapped because they were carrying military identification cars and suspicions arose that they may be Hizbullah members on a reconnaissance mission for the Syrian regime.

The pilgrims were abducted in May in Syria as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from a religious pilgrimage in Iraq.

The New Yorker revealed that the captives were being held in the city of Azaz in Aleppo.

Abu Ibrahim asserted that the pilgrims were not his prisoners, but his guests, it continued.

He also admitted that it is possible that they may in fact be simple pilgrims and not members of Hizbullah.

The reporter was allowed to meet three of the abductees, Ali Zgheib, Awad Ibrahim, and Ali Hussein Abbas.

Asked about how they came to be Abu Ibrahim’s guests, they replied by heaping praise on their captor, lauding his generosity and hoping that the Free Syrian Army would be victorious against the Syrian regime, added The New Yorker.

Abbas was quoted as saying: “We are not hostages, but guests of a great man called al-Hajj Abu Ibrahim.”

Ibrahim added that his experience with Abu Ibrahim helped open his eyes on the Syrian revolt.

He then insulted Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said The New Yorker.

Abbas told the publication that he is willing to act as the voice of the Free Syrian Army in Lebanon.

They all denied being members of Hizbullah, adding that not all Shiites are members of the party.

Abu Ibrahim, said The New Yorker, used to work as a fruit vendor before the eruption of the Syrian revolt and he is now a leader of the armed opposition in the Aleppo province.

Photo credit: The New Yorker

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/48163