Obama Makes Way for Families of Hostages to Negotiate with Terrorists, Pay Ransoms

President Obama announced Wednesday a new directive designed to allow the families of hostages held by terrorists to negotiate and pay ransom for the release of their loved ones.

 

The announcement, made after a six-month review of hostage policies, marks a reversal from the U.S. government’s longstanding policy barring any negotiation with terrorists and making those who hold such discussions with terrorists subject to criminal prosecution.

“These families have already suffered enough and they should never feel ignored or victimized by their own government,” Obama said. “The last thing we should ever do is add to a family’s pain with threats like that.”

"We should always do everything in our power to bring these Americans home safe and to support their families,” he added. "These families are to be treated like what they are — our trusted partners, active partners in the recovery of their loved ones."

Under the new directive, the families of American hostages held abroad by groups like the Islamic State will no longer be threatened with criminal prosecution if they attempt to pay or negotiate ransoms.

The U.S. government will also, under the planned changes, allow relevant employees to help families who are trying to communicate with captors.

In addition, the White House will create an inter-agency “fusion cell” that will more efficiently coordinate efforts across multiple government offices to free U.S. captives.

Obama insisted, however, that no formal changes would be implemented in the actual governmental policy that makes paying money to terror groups illegal — only that such violations of those laws will no longer be prosecuted.

Obama added that he will not be changing the government’s well-established policy of, itself, not paying ransoms in exchange for freeing hostages.

"The United States government will not make concessions, such as paying ransoms, to terrorist groups holding American hostages,” he said. "Paying ransom to terrorists risks endangering more Americans and funding the very terrorism we are trying to stop."

The announced shifts come after Obama ordered a hostage policy review last year amid criticism from families who complained about threats of prosecution, as well as sparse, confusing and sometimes contradictory information from the government.

Six American hostages have been killed by terrorists since last summer, including four murdered by the Islamic State. Other western hostages have been released in exchange for ransom.