ANKARA
In his first remarks to the press after arriving in Turkey, Aygun said that he was kidnapped by the Islamic State of Syria and Al-Sham (or ISIS), an al-Qaeda affiliate trying to control war-torn Syria.
"Ahrar al-Sham group [a member of the umbrella group Islamic Front] has saved me today," said Aygun.
"After the Turkish Foreign Ministry stepped in, the group has put important pressure on the ones in the house they [ISIS] was holding me. They also captured the ones who hold me captive," he said.
The Islamic Front, known as the biggest armed group fighting inside Syria, is a merger of seven rebel groups including Aleppo-based Liwa al-Tawhid, Salafist Ahrar al-Sham, Homs-based Liwa al-Haqq, Idlib-based Suqour al-Sham, Damascus-based Jaysh al-Sham, Ansar al-Sham and also Kurdish Islamic Front.
The group was founded last November and they said they are not affiliated with any foreign group or state.
A team from the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has met the photojournalist in Syria, and brought him back to Turkey late on Sunday.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.