(Newser) – ISIS has released most of the 300 cement workers it abducted near Damascus after questioning them to find out who were Muslims and killing four who were members of the minority Druze sect, the AP reports. Reports of their release came two days after ISIS abducted the cement workers and contractors from their workplace in Dumeir after a surprise attack on government forces. A human-rights group says all those abducted have been released except for 30 people who were guards at the cement factory. Their fate is unknown.

The ISIS-affiliated Aamaq news agency says most of the 300 were released after questioning to determine their religion and whether they support the government.Four workers who belonged to the minority Druze sect were killed and 20 pro-government gunmen are still being held, according to Aamaq. The Druze, a 10th century offshoot of Shiite Islam, made up about 5% of Syria's pre-war population. ISIS, a Sunni Muslim extremist group, considers all Shiites to be heretics deserving death. (Read more ISIS stories.)

