16 Apr 2019

Peters criticises Red Cross for naming nurse kidnapped in Syria

From Morning Report, 6:40 am on 16 April 2019

The Foreign Affairs Minister has accused the International Red Cross of putting the life of New Zealand nurse Lousia Avaki at increased risk by going public with her kidnapping. The aid agency went public yesterday confirming that 62-year-old was kidnapped by Islamic State in Syria in 2013. For years, RNZ and other news media have agreed to keep her capture secret but the ICRC agency has now decided to appeal for information. Winston Peters attacked the move saying the release of Ms Akavi's story puts her in more danger. RNZ political reporter Jo Moir has the story.