BEIRUT: Lebanon’s interior minister has criticized the arrest of a former wife and daughter of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, saying there was no evidence that they were plotting any terror attack.

Nuhad Al-Mashnouq’ statements came as Al-Qaeda-linked group Al-Nusra Front executed a captive Lebanese solider, who is one of about 30 others being held by Syrian extremists.

Mashnouq said he had preferred monitoring and restricting the movement of the two women to “send a message” to their groups and pressure them to release the captive soldiers.

He said while arresting them was counter-productive, leaking the news of their arrest to the media was a “big mistake” because that has put the army and security services under scrutiny by religious leaders and human rights groups.

“There is no decision to release the women, who will be part of negotiations,” he said, adding that in case of a prisoner’s exchange, the two women would be placed under house arrest and would not be handed over to the extremist groups.