--- description: Greek Orthodox nuns are released after four-month ordeal title: Kidnapped Greek Orthodox nuns released in Damascus image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Middle East](/tag/middle-east/) ## Middle East Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Group Linked to Al-Qaeda Frees Nuns by [Maddy Fry](/author/maddy-fry/) ## Maddy Fry Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 10, 2014 2:24 PM CUT by [Maddy Fry](/author/maddy-fry/) ## Maddy Fry Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 10, 2014 2:24 PM CUT A group of 13 Greek Orthodox nuns [were freed](http://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Nuns-freed-after-hostage-ordeal-arrive-in-Damascus-5302713.php "undefined") on Monday after being kidnapped and held by Al-Qaeda-linked rebels in Syria for four months. They arrived in Damascus after a deal was reached between the Syrian government and members of the group the Nusra Front, the Associated Press reports. The nuns were taken from their convent in the predominantly Christian town of Maaloula during a bout of fighting in December. They claimed in a video released by the Nusra Front that they were well-treated. The nuns were delivered to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Old Damascus, where they will remain. Their release came in exchange for about 150 Syrian women being released by the government in Damascus. Despite their safe release, the Syrian Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Assistant, Bishop Louca al-Khoury, accused the Nusra Front of going after Syria’s religious minorities, claiming the country is now being targeted “by armed terrorist groups who don’t understand anything but the language of killing and destruction.” \[[_AP_](http://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Nuns-freed-after-hostage-ordeal-arrive-in-Damascus-5302713.php "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/18090/group-linked-to-al-qaeda-frees-nuns/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/18090/group-linked-to-al-qaeda-frees-nuns/"},"headline":"Group Linked to Al-Qaeda Frees Nuns","datePublished":"2014-03-10T14:24:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T06:40:34.526Z","description":"Greek Orthodox nuns are released after four-month ordeal","url":"https://time.com/18090/group-linked-to-al-qaeda-frees-nuns/","keywords":["Middle East","Syria"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maddy Fry","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/maddy-fry/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/middle-east/","name":"Middle East"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/18090/group-linked-to-al-qaeda-frees-nuns/","name":"Group Linked to Al-Qaeda Frees Nuns"}}]}] ```