Where countries stand on making ransom payments
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UNITED STATES

Government refuses to pay ransoms to freehostages, but says it will arrange talks with hostage-takers and will no longer prosecute citizens involvedin private ransom deals

UNITED KINGDOM

Does not pay ransoms ornegotiate with terrorists. However,UK firms and individuals do make payments to captors. Government will not help set up deals, but does not prosecute people for making these transactions

ISRAEL

Has often struck deals to secure release of its citizens. In 2011, it freed over 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Israeli soldier

Gilad Shalit (left) –held captive by militants for over five years

CANADA

No ransom payments, prisoner swaps, negotiation with hostage-takers or immunity from prosecution

Family members paid $450,000 to free British yachting couple Rachel and Paul Chandler (left) in 2010

CONTINENTAL EUROPE

France, Germany, Italy andSpain have directly paid ransoms to hostage-takers, sparking criticism that they are funding terrorism. Al Qaeda is estimated to have earned at least $125 million from kidnappings since 2008

French President François Hollande(centre) with Didier François,Edouard Elias, Nicolas Hénin and Pierre Torres – four journalists freed in Syria in 2014 for reported $18m
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Source: Wire agencies

Pictures: Associated Press

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