Members of the Iraqi insurgency began taking foreign hostages in Iraq beginning in April 2004. Since then, in a dramatic instance of Islamist kidnapping they have taken captive more than 200 foreigners and thousands of Iraqis; among them, dozens of hostages were killed and others rescued or freed. In 2004, executions of captives were often filmed, and many were beheaded. However, the number of the recorded killings decreased significantly. Many hostages remain missing with no clue as to their whereabouts. The United States Department of State Hostage Working Group was organized by the U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, in the summer of 2004 to monitor foreign hostages in Iraq. The motives for these kidnappings include: The following is a list of known civilian foreign nationals who have been taken hostage in Iraq.

Coalition

Australia

2 released/rescued

Bulgaria

2 killed

Czech Republic

3 released

Denmark

1 killed

Italy

4 killed

6 released

Japan

2 killed

3 released

Macedonia

3 killed

2 released

The Philippines

2 released

Poland

2 released

Romania

3 released

South Korea

1 killed

Ukraine

5 released

United Kingdom

5 killed

6 released/rescued

United States

11 killed

6 released/escaped

5 of unknown fate

Non-coalition

Algeria

2 killed

Austria

1 killed

Bangladesh

1 released

Brazil

1 killed

Canada

1 killed

6 released/escaped

1 of unknown fate

The People's Republic of China

15 released

Cyprus

1 released

Egypt

5 killed

16 released

1 of unknown fate

France

4 released

Germany

5 released

1 of unknown fate

India

49 released

39 killed, 1 escaped

Indonesia

4 released

Iran

7 released

Ireland

1 killed

1 released

Israel

1 of unknown fate

1 released

Jordan

2 released

6 of unknown fate

Kenya

3 released

2 of unknown fate

Lebanon

3 released

Morocco

2 killed

Nepal

12 killed

1 released

Palestine

1 of unknown fate

Pakistan

2 killed

13 released

Russia

4 killed

5 released

Somalia

1 released

South Africa

4 of unknown fate

Sri Lanka

1 released

Sudan

6 killed

9 released

Sweden

1 released

Switzerland

2 released

Syria

1 released

Turkey

5 killed

6 released

United Arab Emirates

1 released