Italian Jehovah's Witnesses kidnapped in Mali, freedom is near.

 MALI

 Italian Jehovah's Witnesses kidnapped in Mali, freedom is near.

 "We stayed for a year with the same clothes on. Last year these days we were at risk of losing dad; he was sick from the heat and lack of medicine, he was barely saved."  These words, noted in a letter delivered last September to the International Red Cross, are from Giovanni Langone, a 43-year-old Italian Jehovah's Witness held hostage along with his father Rocco Langone, 65, and his mother Maria Donata Caivano, 62. Muslim terrorists.

 The few lines written on August 2 represent, together with those of two other letters dated May 10 and June 7, 2023, the only news about the imprisonment of three Italians kidnapped in Mali on May 19, 2022. Thank you To those three letters delivered to the International Red Cross by the kidnappers and seen by "Il Giornale" it is possible to shed light on the fate of these hostages forgotten for almost two years.  This is a family of Jehovah's Witnesses originally from Potenza who moved years before the kidnapping to Koutiala, an area of ​​Mali on the border with Bourkina Faso.  "A very dangerous area due to a very strong presence of Muslim terrorists. The first to accept the risks associated with that religious proselytizing mission was John.

 However, in 2019, Father Rocco and Mother Maria joined him in Mali to help him open a Kingdom hall, or place of worship, for Jehovah's Witnesses.

 The Langone family's situation came to pass on May 19, 2022, when armed militiamen ordered Rocco, María and Giovanni to get into the bed of a truck.  From that moment on, darkness falls on them.  Meanwhile, "Il Giornale" sources explain, a series of transfers begins that takes the three to an area in the north under the control of the militiamen.

 For Rocco Maria and Donato it is the most difficult period.  Also because government air attacks occur in the area.  "We have been in captivity for almost a year and there is no way out," writes Giovanni Langone on May 10, 2023. The situation becomes more stable only in the following months.  "We spent 14 months here, for 3 months things have adjusted a little, now they give us what we ask for to eat and dress" - notes John on August 8.  Today, six months later, the epilogue may be close.  The voices coming from Mali speak of mediation directed through the correct channels for the payment of the ransom.  The mediators think that liberation is near.

 In the photos:

 1: Illustrative photo.

 2. "We have been in captivity for almost a year and there is no way out."  Letter dated May 10, 2023.

 3. Letter August 8, 2023.

 4. "We were here for 14 months, for 3 months things have adjusted a little, now they give us what we ask for to eat and dress."  - Letter dated August 8, 2023.