New details have emerged on the captivity of several Americans and other Westerners by the Islamic State in Syria. The New York Times reports the hostages were subjected to months of psychological and physical torture.
According to freed survivors, the six American and British male hostages were subjected to the worst abuse, because of the militants’ political grievances and their governments’ refusal to negotiate a ransom. The American journalist James Foley was subjected to the worst treatment, undergoing mock executions and repeated waterboarding. Foley was among four people — another American and two Brits — executed in beheading videos since August. A number of European hostages have been released after their governments paid a ransom. The United States says its policy of not paying ransoms ultimately protects more Americans by making them less valuable targets.