In the five years since the emergence of the Islamic State, known in the West as ISIS, the militant Islamist group has earned an estimated $125 million (USD) strictly through ransoming hostages. Rather than coming from individual families, critics charge governments in Europe of secretly paying vast sums to secure the safety of their citizens. 

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The subject of ransom is a prickly one. Governments walk the fine line between looking as if they are indifferent to their own people or as supplying funds that will eventually go to weapons purchases and thereby continuing a particular group's existence, armament, and reach. The United States and the United Kingdom do not negotiate with terrorist organizations, which ISIS is classified, in an effort not to encourage further kidnappings. However, other nations including France and Spain now face charges that their back-channel dealings with terrorists networks are indirectly funding the operations of ISIS and other movements.

On Thursday, British Prime Minister David Cameron was urged by his government to confront French president Francois Hollande over the practice. Hollande personally welcomed four Frenchmen back to Paris after they had been captured by al-Qaeda fighters in the the African country of Niger. It is believed the men were freed with ransoms paid for by France.

As quoted in the Daily Mail, Tory MP Andrew Rosindall, who sits on the UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: "If they are paying ransoms they are harming the interests of the free world and by playing the game of terrorism by paying ransom money they are funding and furthering the cause of ISIS and al-Qaeda."

The issue has been raised after a grisly video showing the beheading of American journalist James Wright Foley by ISIS was posted to YouTube. ISIS, now in control of much of northern Syria and Iraq, had tried to ransom Foley for $132 million (USD), an offer that was rejected by Washington. American President Obama recently admitted the failure of covert American forces trying to free Foley.

It is thought an estimated 20 foreign nationals are being held by various militant groups. It was reported yesterday that a Japanese citizen, a Dane, and two Italians were captured by ISIS forces north of the city of Aleppo in Syria. It is thought ISIS holds two Armenians and three more Americans as well.  

TagsISIS, James Wright Foley, ransom, Terrorist, hostages, Al-qaeda, david cameron, Francois Hollande