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UNITED NATIONS. — The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution calling on all countries to refuse to pay ransom to terrorists in incidents of kidnapping and hostage-taking.In the unanimously approved resolution, the Security Council expressed its determination to prevent kidnappings and hostage- takings committed by terrorist groups and to secure the safe release of hostages “without ransom payments or political concessions.”
The 15-nation body strongly condemned such incidents committed by terrorist groups “for any purpose, including raising funds or gaining political concessions.”
The Council also expressed concerns at the increase in incidents of kidnapping for ransom by terrorists, “in particular the increase in kidnappings by Al-Qaida and its affiliated groups, “ said the resolution.
It underscored that the payment of ransoms to terrorists funds future kidnappings and hostage-takings, which creates more victims and perpetuates the problem.
“Ransom payments to terrorist groups are one of the sources of income which supports their recruitment efforts, strengthens their operational capability to organise and carry out terrorist attacks, and incentivises future incidents of kidnapping for ransom,” the resolution noted.
Therefore, the Security Council “calls upon all member states to prevent terrorists from benefiting directly or indirectly from ransom payments or from political concessions and to secure the safe release of hostages.” –AFP.
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