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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The family of a 56-year-old Kurdish teacher kidnapped in northeast Syria (Rojava) has appealed for his safe return after his abductors have reportedly demanded a $300,000 ransom for his release, relatives tell Rudaw.
Hasan Kelesh was abducted by unknown assailants mid last week from Girke Lege, a town in the Kurdish-majority Hasaka province. His family said his car was left behind at the scene.
A day after his abduction, Kelesh's brother received a WhatsApp message from a Philippines-registered number. “They messaged us on WhatsApp, sent us a picture of him and told us Hasan is being held by them, safe and sound, but that we must pay $300,000 for his release,” his brother, Rezan Kelesh, told Rudaw's Vivyan Fatah on Wednesday.
“The next day, they contacted us again and said, 'Your 24 hours are up, and you haven't paid the money; you are playing with fire!’” he said.
The case has raised concerns over the safety of civilians in Rojava amid continued instability in parts of Syria.
Kelesh's mother, Maryam Khidir, appealed to Kurdish leaders in the Kurdistan Region as well as the international community to help bring her son home.
“My heart is burning. I appeal to President Masoud Barzani, Nechirvan Barzani, and the international community to bring my son back, whether dead or alive,” she said.
The family has filed a case with a court in Rojava as internal security forces in the Kurdish-majority enclave have told the family that an investigation is ongoing but have not released further details.
Kelesh's uncle, Ahmed Kelesh, called for those responsible to be held accountable and urged authorities in Rojava and Damascus to ramp up efforts to bolster security and safeguard civilians.
“Those who commit these crimes must be punished appropriately so they know this is not the law of the jungle,” he said.
The case also comes amid continued fears over kidnappings and extortion in parts of Rojava.
In July, the family of Mohammed Qadir, a 52-year-old Kurdish man, said he and his driver, Wiso Hoshan, 25, had been abducted while working between the areas of Menajir and Sari Kane in Hasaka province. Their abductors demanded $60,000 for their release.
The two men were reportedly operating a backhoe to dig wells when contact with them was lost on July 14. Their families later received images showing them bound, along with voice messages pleading for help.
