 A New Zealand hostage released from captivity in Iraq believes a ransom was paid for his freedom. Harmeet Sooden, a 32-year-old Auckland University student, has spoken publicly for the first time about his kidnapping and four-month detention. Harmeet Sooden was one of three members of the Christian Peacemaker Team rescued a week ago by British special forces in Iraq. A fourth American colleague was murdered by the kidnappers.
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Mr Sooden thanked all those who had worked and prayed over four months for his release. On the day he was rescued his captors were nowhere to be seen, which he thought was highly unusual. "This is strange, I mean I wasn't jumping for joy or didn't have tears of emotion, I sort of felt: this is contrived," he said. And when asked, he said he believed it was "highly likely" that a ransom had been paid. |