Freed Israeli Hostage Recounts Torture by Iran-Backed Militia in Iraq
Israeli-Russian scholar Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was released in September after being held captive by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia, described in her first interview with the New York Times the torture she endured during her more than two years of imprisonment.
Background and Abduction
Tsurkov, a Princeton PhD candidate specializing in Middle Eastern politics, traveled to Iraq using her Russian passport to study Shi'ite movements. In March 2023, she was abducted in Baghdad by the Shi'ite militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, a group designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.
She explained that one evening she agreed to meet a work contact who never appeared, only to be seized by men who forced her into a vehicle, tied her hands, and blindfolded her before taking her to an undisclosed location.
Captivity and Negotiations
Tsurkov was freed after 903 days in captivity, following a visit to Iraq in February by a U.S. envoy for hostage affairs from the Trump administration, sent to negotiate her release. Now back in Israel, she is undergoing extensive physical and psychological rehabilitation.
Torture and Abuse
She believes she was initially kidnapped for ransom but later accused of espionage once her captors discovered she was Israeli. The worst abuse occurred in the early months and later during attempts to extract forced confessions.
“They whipped me all over,” Tsurkov said. “They basically used me as a punching bag.”
She described being handcuffed, suspended from the ceiling, beaten, electrocuted, and sexually assaulted, leaving her with lasting physical injuries and difficulty sitting because of severe pain.
Ongoing Recovery
Tsurkov continues to receive medical and psychological support in Israel as she recovers from the prolonged trauma inflicted during her captivity.
Author’s summary: Elizabeth Tsurkov’s harrowing account reveals the brutality of her captivity under Iran-backed militants and her ongoing struggle to recover after 903 days of imprisonment.
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