In a recent turn of events, the Taliban kidnappers who held hostage an Italian photojournalist Gabriele Torsello, have agreed to release him on the condition that Italy handover an Afghan Christian convert who is residing in Italy, as reported by Italian online daily, PeaceReporter.
The Afghan Christian convert in question is 41-year-old Abdul Rahman, who faced a death penalty for favoring Christanity and rejecting Islam, and was sent away to Italy wherein he was granted political asylum earlier this year in March, after being released from an Afghani prison.
The deadline set by Torsello's captors is the end of Muslim holy month Ramadan i.e. by end of the day on October 22.
Gabriele Torsello, 36, who has often worked in war zones, was kidnapped along with his Afghan translator on Saturday when they were travelling between Laskar Gah and Kandahar.
The Italian foreign ministry refused to comment on the kidnappers' demands, however, Italian politician, Rocco Buttiglione, commented saying, "It is not a demand that a decent human being would ever consider."
"We are not ready to offer one human life for another human life... It is barbarian, inhuman, and it grinds against any accepted convention on human rights," he added.
PeaceReporter also revealed later Wednesday that the kidnappers have put forth another option before Italy stating that it should withdraw its troops from Afghanistan if they want Torsello to remain alive, in case they weren't able to release Rahman.
However, Torsello's family is confident about Torsellos' release and are hopeful that Torsello would soon return home.
"Gabriele will certainly return home. I believe in him, just as I believe in the help that the government is providing," said Torsello's mother Vittoria.
"Despite yesterday's news we are still confident. We hope this affair will end quickly," said his father.
