Pirates Anchor Danish Yacht With Hostages

Pirates Anchor Danish Yacht With Hostages

They are holding 7 hostages. Two Danes, their three children and two crew members.
AP: NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Danish family kidnapped by pirates has reached the shore of Somalia, officials and a pirate said Wednesday, likely meaning a long hostage ordeal for the couple and their three teenage children who were abducted while yachting around the world.


A Somali pirate had warned that if any attempt was made to rescue them, they would meet the same fate as the four American yachters slain by their pirate captors last week. Any chance of a quick rescue seemed to disappear Wednesday.

The sailboat being piloted by Jan Quist Johansen, his wife and their three children, ages 12 to 16, anchored near the coastal village of Hafun late Tuesday, said Yusuf Abdullahi Sanyare, the commissioner of Hafun, which lies on Somalia's northern tip.
We pray they will be released safely. Especially the children. Looking for an Islamic rule against you know, the taking of and murder of child hostages. You know to argue for their release.


.....didn't find one.

Update: Well whaddya know, I did find one. Its from the The International Union for Muslim Scholars based in Dublin Ireland. I wonder if the pirates even recognize that group?
In the case of war, it is not permissible to kidnap innocent or enemy civilians who must not be made a target of any act of war. From the Islamic point of view, civilians are those who are non-combatants, such as women and children, as well as elderly men who have no role in the fighting, and priests. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has given an express order "not to kill women and children." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) He also said: "Do not kill any young person." (Reported by Abu Dawud) In an order to Khalid ibn Al-Walid, the commander of the army, he said: "Never kill a child or an employee." (Reported by Ibn Majah) This last order includes anyone who is employed in non-combat capacity, such as factory workers, medical personnel, and the like. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also highlighted the prohibition of killing an elderly man, a priest, or a hermit dedicated to worship. The same prohibition of killing elderly men is confirmed by Abu Bakr. Moreover, Jabir ibn `Abdullah, the Prophet's Companion, is quoted as saying that Muslims "did not kill business people who were unbelievers." The majority of scholars in the Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali schools of Islamic law extend this prohibition, on the basis of analogy, to include other non-combatants, such as those who are physically or mentally handicapped, and those who lock themselves in a house or a church, labourers, farmers, and tradesmen. Imam Ash-Shawkani has formulated a clear rule of analogy on this particular issue. This rule makes it clear that "it is unlawful from the Islamic point of view to kill anyone who is of no benefit to the enemy and cannot do the Muslims any harm."
Update: Reading assignment on the difficulties of Sharia law and the issue of Children. Custody specifically in this document.

Update II: An opposing hadith in comments
Bukhari (52:256) - The Prophet... was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)." In this command, Muhammad establishes that it is permissible to kill non-combatants in the process of killing a perceived enemy.
I would think that would not apply in this case because the hostages were not in the line of fire of a direct attack against combatants. There was no battle. Also so far as I know Christians and Jews are not treated the same as Pagans under Sharia.