On Anniversary of Kayla Mueller's Death, Iraqi female Hostage Taker Charged

By Ann Dee
Tragic Death of Kayla Mueller
Christian aid worker Kayla Jean Mueller was 26 at the time of her death. Courtesy of Mueller Family

On Monday, an Iraqi woman was charged with taking hostage an American aid worker who was killed in Syria last year. The Iraqi woman Umm Sayyaf was captured back in May in a Syria raid.

The Washington Post reported that the woman, also known as Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar, was captured during a US commando raid in eastern Syria. She lost her husband, a senior Islamic State official that day during the assault. 

The Iraqi woman was charged in the federal court in Alexandria, Va. Her charges include engaging in a conspiracy with a foreign terrorist organization to provide material support, which resulted in a person's death. For months, the Justice Department officials and federal prosecutors have debated on what charges to file against Sayyaf. 

She was accused of having a hand at the imprisonment of Kayle Mueller, 26, of Prescott, Arizona. Mueller's case was a highly publicized one. Mueller was in the Syrian city of Aleppo when she was kidnapped. She was there to help the refugees wanting to leave the chaotic city. She suffered through constant abuse and rape from the leader of the Islamic state. On February of 2015, a media account related to the ISL released a statement that Mueller was killed by one of the many Jordanian airstrikes in Al-Raqqah. While there was a debate about who was responsible for the airstrikes that killed Mueller, the family announced that Mueller's death was confirmed by three photographs sent by ISIL. The intelligence community authenticated the photos. 

Sayyaf admitted that she and her husband were largely responsible for maintaining the custody of Mueller and three civilians. Sayyaf was subjected to repeated interrogations by the FBI-led High Value Detainee Interrogation Group before coming clean. Sayyaf revealed that she only thought Mueller was being held for ransom or at least some type of prisoner exchange strategy. She also told that her home was mainly used to keep significant amounts of cash that the Islamic State made through its oil and gas transactions. Her home was also regularly used by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State as well as other terrorists. 

Even with the charges, it does not mean Sayyaf will be transported to the United States. She is currently under the custody of the Iraqis. However, the officials said that the charges might, at least, bring some comfort to the Mueller's family. 

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories