Kidnapping

:For other uses of related terms, see or see Kidnapper the song by American band Blondie.

Definition

It has come to mean any illegal capture and detention

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of persons against their will, regardless of age, as for ransom; since 1768 the term Abduction was also used in this sense.

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Another case is when two countries are at war: enemy soldiers may be captured in another country and detained as prisoners of war under the law of the capturer's state, and suspected war criminals and those suspected of genocide or crimes against humanity may be arrested.

Related Topics:
Prisoners of war - War criminal - Genocide - Crimes against humanity

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• Although the victims are usually called hostages, this term also applies to legal hostage-taking, often practiced by public authorities.