Islamic scholars in mediation for the release of Austrian tourists

There is a religious mediation supervised by Islamic institutions to coordinate between kidnappers of two Austrian tourists and Austria, according to Secretary General of Imams’ Permanent Council based in Vienna.

 Wolfgang Ebner and Andrea Kloiber were kidnapped by alleged Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb on February 22nd while travelling in Tunisia. “The institutions in charge of mediation are in Egypt and Qatar. They are represented in religious references which are believed to have a spiritual influence on kidnappers,” Doctor Anas Chakfa told Echorouk.

“Those Islamic figures are led by Doctor Youssef Al Karaddaoui, president of the International Union for Muslim Scholars in addition to Doctor Mohamed Salim Al Aoua, Secretary General of the Union and Isam Al Bachir, a prominent Islamic personality,” Chakfa added.

The Imam’s Permanent Council in Europe is in touch with Austrian foreign affairs ministry upon a demand from the government, according to the same source.“The council is in contact with a number of Islamic organisations in the world including the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

”The International Union for Muslim Scholars considers issuing a call to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb which said it was behind the abduction for the release of the Austrian hostages, Echorouk learnt.

  “Neither Algeria nor Tunisia can free the hostages” 

The kidnapped Austrian tourists’ families said the government heard people who were abducted in the Algerian desert in 2003 to have any hope for the release of the two hostages.

“Neither Algeria nor Tunisia can release the hostages,” said the same source.“A statement was issued to ask the kidnappers to extend the ultimatum given by the kidnappers in order to find diplomatic solutions for the release.”

The hostages’ families said that they can not afford to pay ransom.  

Prime Minister: Algeria is not directly involved 

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said Algeria is not directly concerned by the issue of two kidnapped Austrian tourists.“The tourists were kidnapped out of Algeria. So, Algeria is not involved in this abduction,” said Belkhadem.“What Algeria is doing is contacting all countries as part of the fight against terrorism,” he added.