AN American journalist held for nearly two years by
militants linked to Al-Qaeda in Syria returned to the
United States late Tuesday, two days after Qatar
negotiated his release, his family said.

Peter Theo Curtis, 45, was reunited with his mother
Nancy Curtis at Boston Logan International Airport after
flying from Tel Aviv to Newark, New Jersey.

"I have been so touched and moved, beyond all words,
by the people who have come up to me today --
strangers on the airplane, the flight attendants and, most
of all, my family -- to say welcome home," Curtis said in
a statement.

"I am also deeply indebted to the US officials who have
worked on my case. I especially want to thank the
government of Qatar for intervening on my behalf."

Curtis's family has said the Qatari government had
repeatedly reassured them that it had not won his
freedom through a cash payment, amid a growing
debate over the US policy of refusing to pay ransoms to
extremist groups.

Washington sticks to a policy of never paying ransoms,
saying that doing so would endanger Americans all over
the world.

The freelance journalist and author was released on
Sunday, less than a week after grisly footage emerged of
the execution of another US hostage, journalist James
Foley, by the Islamic State -- a separate group from the
one that held Curtis.

"I am overwhelmed with relief that this day has come
and my son is standing beside me. But this is a sober
occasion because of the events of the past week. My
heart goes out to the other families who are suffering,"
Nancy Curtis said.

"I would like to thank the many public and private
individuals all over the world who have worked so hard
to bring Theo home."

Curtis was captured shortly before he crossed into Syria
in October 2012 and was held by the Al-Qaeda splinter
group known as Al-Nusra front, according to his family.

During his captivity, media outlets had refrained from
using Curtis's name at the request of the family.

After his return to the United States, the family requested
privacy.

"We greatly appreciated the support of the press while
Theo was in captivity," Nancy said.

"We now ask for some private time to adjust. Theo will
be the best person to tell his story when he is ready."

Curtis was handed over to UN peacekeepers in the Golan
Heights late Sunday and taken to Tel Aviv by US
government officials.

The Islamic State and Al-Nusra are rooted in Al-Qaeda
in Iraq but the two groups have been openly at war with
each other in Syria since early this year.


SOURCE

i rily thk God 4 his life