Archbishop kidnapped in Iraq released unharmed
{{byline|date=January 18, 2005|location=[[w:Iraq|Iraq]]}}

The [[w:Syria|Syrian]] Catholic archbishop of [[w:Mosul|Mosul]], [[w:Basile Georges Casmoussa|Basile Georges Casmoussa]], aged 66, who was abducted by unidentified gunmen yesterday afternoon, was released earlier today and is now back in his home.

According to Father Dwraid Brbar of the Mosul diocese, the abductors probably took the wrong person. They were not aware that he was an archbishop. "Initially they asked for a ransom, but when they realised that they had taken a member of the Catholic Church they released him without demanding money".

Casmoussa was born in Iraq and has been archbishop of the Syrian Catholic rite in Mosul since 1999.

==References==
*{{source|url=http://www.misna.org/news.asp?lng=1&id=127092
|title=Release of Archbishop: "Captors took the wrong person"
|author=
|pub=Misna
|date=January 18, 2005}}

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[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Mosul]]
The Syrian Catholic archbishop of Mosul, Basile Georges Casmoussa, aged 66, who was abducted by unidentified gunmen yesterday afternoon, was released earlier today and is now back in his home.

According to Father Dwraid Brbar of the Mosul diocese, the abductors probably took the wrong person. They were not aware that he was an archbishop. "Initially they asked for a ransom, but when they realised that they had taken a member of the Catholic Church they released him without demanding money".

Casmoussa was born in Iraq and has been archbishop of the Syrian Catholic rite in Mosul since 1999.
Religion Iraq Politics and conflicts Christianity Roman Catholic Church Middle East Mosul