French NGO Consultant Appeals for Release in Hostage Video

According to French media, the French Foreign Ministry has authenticated a video from May 4 showing a French hostage in Yemen appealing for release. Isabelle Prime, a consultant for Yemen’s Social Fund for Development, says in the video that she was abducted in Sanaa, Yemen, 10 weeks before.

“Mr Hollande and Mr Hadi, my name is Isabelle, I’ve been kidnapped 10 weeks ago in Yemen, in Sanaa. Please bring me to France fast because I’m really, really tired,” she said. “I tried to kill myself several times because I know you will not cooperate and I totally understand.”

According to reports, Prime and her translator, Shereen Makawi, were kidnapped in February, with Makawi later released. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the abduction.

Le Monde said on June 1 that the video had been authenticated by the French Foreign Ministry. The ministry was quoted as saying negotiations for Prime’s release were continuing. Credit: YouTube/Black Lion