Report: Case of Kidnapped Aazaz Pilgrims in Hands of German Intelligence

The kidnappers of the Lebanese pilgrims held in Syria's Aazaz region have demanded the help of Germany in the mediation efforts, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

It added that the case of the nine pilgrims is now in the hands of German intelligence.

The daily revealed that General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim had met with German officials earlier this week with discussions covering the abduction, especially in light of the fact that Germany has had several experiences in prisoner swap deals in the past.

Moreover, the recent developments in the Aazaz region forced the intervention of Germany in order “to garner European sympathies” for the Northern Storm Brigade that claimed the pilgrims' kidnapping.

The intervention is also aimed at pressuring Syria to release the captives and take a load of Turkey, which had been mediating the release of the pilgrims.

The relatives of the captives have held Turkey responsible for the ongoing abduction because the Aazaz region is close to the Turkish border.

Germany has also been involved in efforts to release two bishops who were kidnapped in Syria in April.

Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yaziji, were kidnapped on April 23, reportedly near the rebel-held town of Kafr Dael, near Aleppo in northern Syria.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria in May 2012 as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage in Iran.

Two of them have since been released while the rest remain in Syria.

The relatives of the pilgrims have repeatedly held Turkey responsible for the ongoing abduction, staging sit-ins and protests near Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to exert more efforts to release their loved ones.