Iranians, Turks held in Syria released in major prisoner swap

Forty-eight Iranians who were captured in Damascus in August by Syrian opposition groups were released yesterday under a swap deal mediated by Qatar, Iran and a Turkish charity group, the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (IHH).In exchange for the 48 Iranians, the Syrian regime released 2,130 people, including Turkish nationals Initially, the Syrian regime began to free the prisoners held in Damascus and later the 48 Iranians were handed over to IHH members by the opposition.IHH Chairman Bulent Yildirim, who is overseeing the exchange in Damascus, told Today's Zaman in a phone interview that the prisoner swap had already begun, adding that among the 2,130 civilians held captive by the Syrian regime are at least four Turkish nationals, two of whom were released yesterday."The deal has been brokered and now the releases continue. The swap of prisoners began in several locations. The 48 Iranians were released in Damascus's Duma region. IHH official Izzet Sahin accompanied the Iranians, who were transferred to Damascus by bus. Some 2,130 people, including women and children, were released on Wednesday," said Yildirim.Yildirim stated that that two of the four Turkish nationals have already been freed under the deal and the other two will be released on Thursday due to security concerns. "The swap process will continue into Thursday only for these two Turkish nationals. The two Turkish nationals will be taken to Turkey on Thursday but the other two Turkish nationals, who have lived in Syria for many years, will decide whether to come or not," said Yildirim.