Hostage's Parents Slam US 'Terrorist Deal'

Dead man's dad opposes negotiating with kidnappers
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 5, 2010 2:34 AM CST
Hostage's Parents Slam US 'Terrorist Deal'
Qais al-Khazali was released from US custody last week in what is widely believed to have been a deal to win a British hostage's freedom.   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen, file)

The family of a British hostage who died after being kidnapped in Iraq have criticized the US for an alleged deal that reportedly released a terrorist prisoner in exchange for the freedom of one of their son's colleagues last week. Peter Moore was freed after militant cleric Qais al-Khazali was released from custody. "I believe that you should not negotiate with terrorists, even though it's cost my son his life," said the father of Jason Swindlehurst, one of Moore's four bodyguards.

Swindlehurst's dad said if the US was going to negotiate with terrorists, officials should have done so sooner "when we might have had five lads come back as opposed to one." Swindlehurst's body and those of two other bodyguards, kidnapped in 2007, were turned over to Iraqi authorities last year. US officials have denied releasing al-Khazali for Moore's freedom.
(More Jason Swindlehurst stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X