ADANA
After forty days blindfold in Syria Turkish photojournalist Bunyamin Aygun is freed by an opposition group arrived in Adana on Monday.
Bunyamin Aygun, who works for the Turkish daily Milliyet, was freed on Sunday by an armed opposition group linked with the newly established Islamic Front. Kidnapped by the Islamic State of Syria and Al-Sham (or ISIS), an al-Qaeda affiliate and returned to Turkey, Aygun answered his colleagues' questions at the Adana airport on his way to Istanbul.
Asked whether any ransom was given for his release, Aygun said "I didn't know. I was blindfolded. I was blindfolded 40 days, apart from the times I needed to go to the toilet.''
Aygun said he was rescued during a fighting between the Islamic Front and ISIS. Later, a team from the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) met Aygun in Syria, and brought him back to Turkey late on Sunday.
Aygun thanked Turkey's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, IHH the Turkish charity, Photojournalists Association of Turkey and Turkey's Journalist Association for their support.
Aygun flew onto Istanbul the same day.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
