Canada will not pay ransom to terrorist organizations abducting Canadian citizens as it may put lives of innocent people at risk, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
On Monday, Trudeau confirmed the death of John Ridsdel, a Canadian citizen who was killed by Abu Sayyaf militants after the government did not pay a reported ransom of $5.1 million to free the hostage.
"I do... want to make one thing perfectly, crystal clear: Canada does not and will not pay ransom to terrorists, directly or indirectly," Trudeau said during a press conference on Tuesday broadcast by the CBC broadcaster.
He clarified that paying ransom would endanger lives of Canadians traveling abroad, as well as fund terrorist organizations to commit new acts of violence around the globe.
Trudeau previously stated that the responsibility for Ridsdel's death rests squarely with the terrorist group that took him hostage, and added that the Canadian authorities would bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.