Japanese tourists in Yemen were kidnapped, fortunately released
Published by Avi Green on Friday, May 09, 2008 at 6:09 AM.
I think this should serve as a lesson why questionable countries like Yemen, where Islam is dominant, really don't need money from tourists. From The Japan Times:
SAN'A (Kyodo) Two female Japanese tourists kidnapped in Yemen have been safely freed, officials at the Japanese Embassy in Yemen said Thursday morning.If they really want to see this relative of theirs again, maybe they should join him in prison! And even if the tribal leaders led to the release of the hostages, Yemen is still not a safe place to visit, as this should tell.
The women, who local tribesmen kidnapped at the historic site of Marib in western Yemen, arrived unhurt at their Marib hotel, the officials said.
Their release followed negotiations between the four kidnappers and tribal leaders who surrounded the house where the women were being held.
There was no word on whether prisoners or money were exchanged to win the hostages' release.
The women, who had been part of a larger group of tourists, were kidnapped Wednesday afternoon on their way to the ancient Marib Dam.
[...]
Local news Web site Marib Press quoted sources close to the situation as saying the kidnappers demanded that a man being held in San'a over the alleged murder of a Yemeni soldier be freed. The man in custody is reportedly a relative of the kidnappers.
