A Turkish businessman, Aydın Tufan Tekin, who was abducted by a Lebanese Shiite clan last month and released on Tuesday has returned home safely Today`s Zaman reported
Tekin arrived in Turkey on Wednesday morning on Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati's private jet. The jet landed at Dalaman Airport in the southwestern province of Muğla and Tekin later on traveled to his home in Marmaris, a resort town in Muğla.
The businessman was greeted by friends, neighbors and relatives in front of his house.
Speaking to reporters on the same day, Tekin thanked everyone who supported him and his family during his captivity.
"I wholeheartedly thank the Turkish president, prime minister, foreign minister, Lebanese government and everyone who worked hard on my behalf," Tekin said.
Stating that he was held captive by the clan for 27 days, Tekin said now all this is behind him and he is very happy to be back home safe and sound.
Tekin was kidnapped along with about 20 Syrians in retaliation for the kidnapping of clan member Hassan al-Meqdad -- allegedly by the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Damascus.
In a statement, the Lebanese army said on Tuesday that it "freed four kidnapped Syrians after raiding a location in Hay al-Sellum following surveillance and follow-ups," but there was no word on the fate of Tekin. Quoting anonymous Lebanese military officials, Turkey's Anatolia news agency said Lebanese authorities negotiated with members of the Meqdad clan and secured the release of Tekin.
Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Turkey's Beirut ambassador welcomed Tekin at the Turkish Embassy in Beirut after his release.