Slain IS hostage’s father slams US ransom policy

The father of American hostage Kayla Mueller, who died while held by the Islamic State group, accuses the Obama administration of putting its policy of not paying ransoms “in front of American lives.”

IS fighters claim Mueller, who was seized in the Syrian city of Aleppo in August 2013, was killed in a February 6 coalition air strike that buried her in rubble. US officials have pushed back, saying the circumstances of the 26-year-old aid worker’s death remain unclear.

The girl’s father expresses strong reservations about the longstanding US policy of refusing to negotiate with or pay ransom to foreign groups that have kidnapped Americans, as the Mueller family breaks its media silence.

“We understand the policy about not paying ransom,” Carl Mueller tells NBC television’s “Meet the Press.”

“But on the other hand, any parents out there would understand that you would want anything and everything done to bring your child home. And we tried. And we asked. But they put policy in front of American citizens’ lives.”

Other Western countries, in contrast, are known to have paid large ransoms to free hostages.

The interview with Mueller, his wife Marsha and his son Eric is conducted Saturday. Excerpts aired Sunday, with the full interview set for broadcast Monday on other NBC programs.

Asked whether President Barack Obama’s administration did enough to free her daughter, Marsha Mueller says: “​I think they wanted to. But I think again, it’s the policy. And I don’t think anyone had any idea this group would be as powerful as they were.”

— AFP