Simona Pari, left, and Simona Torretta, volunteers for "A Bridge for Baghdad," an Italian aid organization, were released today after being held hostage for three weeks in Iraq.
Associated Press
Posted on 09/28/2004 6:16:26 PM PDT by 68skylark
ROME, Sept. 28 — Italy rejoiced tonight at the safe release of the young Italian aid workers known here as "the two Simonas," whose three weeks in captivity wrenched the nation and stamped real faces on the rising dangers of the war in Iraq.
"I felt chills when I heard the news," Manuela Mancucci, 24, a street vendor in downtown Rome, said early in the evening as the news spread that Simona Pari and Simona Torretta had been released in Baghdad. "I'm so happy for them and their families."
The kidnapping of the two women, in a raid on their office in the Iraqi capital on Sept. 7, sparked unusual displays of both collective concern and political unity in Italy. Over the last three weeks, thousands marched for their release in downtown Rome, and huge pictures of their faces hung on the old capitol building. A mountain of news coverage, full of angst and interviews with their worried parents, turned the captivity of the two women — each just 29 years old — into some mix of family drama and national crisis.
Only last week, as two American hostages were beheaded, the Italian press reported extensively on claims circulating on the Internet that the two women had been executed. This evening, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi jubilantly announced an end to the uncertainty.
"Finally, a moment of joy," Mr. Berlusconi, who had been criticized for inaction after an Italian journalist was kidnapped and executed last month, told reporters in Rome. "The girls are safe and already tonight they could return to their loved ones."
Later, the Arab news network Al Jazeera showed footage of the women after being released in Iraq, as black hoods were peeled from their heads to show smiling and relieved faces. Crowds of people gathered outside the home of Ms. Torretta's family in Rome, applauding the release.
"The information is 100 percent certain, and we are already celebrating," Annamaria Torretta, Simona Torretta's mother, told an Italian television station.
Details were sparse this evening about the release. An Italian government official would say only that they were in the hands of the Italian Red Cross, and that they were being flown back to Rome tonight.
Among the many unanswered questions is whether Italy paid any money for their release. A Kuwaiti newspaper had reported that $1 million had been put up in ransom.
Asked by a reporter in Parliament today if any money changed hands, Mr. Berlusconi did not answer directly. Without addressing the question of money, he said that their release was thanks to the work of Italian humanitarian organizations.
Given the surge of relief here, he seemed unlikely to face deep criticism in Italy if in fact a ransom was paid. Similar rumors, never substantiated, circulated after the release last spring of three Italian security contractors who had been taken hostage. A fourth hostage taken at the same time had been executed.
"I don't care if any money was paid," said Stefano Campello, 52, a businessman who had just heard the news in downtown Rome. "If so, good. They are home."
The release, however, seemed equally unlikely to ease pressure on Mr. Berlusconi for his support of the war in Iraq — widely unpopular among ordinary Italians — and the presence of some 3,000 Italian troops there. His conservative government and the opposition, which rarely cooperate, did come together in unaccustomed unity for the task of securing the women's release.
But the kidnapping seemed to harden the position of many opponents of the war, who have said that it stood as tangible proof that Mr. Berlusconi's policy creates greater dangers for Italy and Italians.
Francesco Rutelli, an opposition leader, said today that "we are all filled with joy" at the women's release. But he added: "We know full well that there are clear differences in our judgments of this war and the postwar, which unfortunately is creating more victims."
Jason Horowitz contributed reporting for this article.
The news is wonderful. I feared the worst when these women were taken hostage.
Notice that even in the first sentence about great news, the Times can't resist reporting how the dangers are rising and getting worse in Iraq. They can't stop trying to steer the news.
Simona Pari, left, and Simona Torretta, volunteers for "A Bridge for Baghdad," an Italian aid organization, were released today after being held hostage for three weeks in Iraq.
Associated Press
One on the right reminds me of Shelley Duvall in Popeye.
They've been notoriously anti-U.S. and occupation in their work in Baghdad. At least it kept them from having their heads separated from their bodies :-)
I'm not sure that was it. I suspect some ransom might have come into play. Plus, even the Islamo-fascists have got to figure that killing helpless women is not going to win them any honor -- even by the warped standards of the Islamic world.
Yeah, I think they're both very good looking. (I can't stand their politics though -- but I'm very glad they're safe.)
Oh, I agree. It's just that I don't think you're going to see any sort of gratitude by these two for the work that the Italian authorities probably did behind the scenes.
I can almost guarantee that they're also going to criticize the U.S. at whatever news conferences that they hold.
Yeah -- I expect we're going to get a big demonstration of the Stockholm Syndrome in the next few days. Whatever these young ladies have to say will be picked up in all the left-leaning press in Europe and the U.S. That's especially true with these two -- they were already "Stockholmed" before they were kidnapped.
I want to hear how much ransom money was paid to fund new terrorist plans.
The article says the figure is rumored to be around $1 million.
My goodness I sound harsh.
My dad was at Anzio. He didn't think much of the Italian army.
Italy had two Renaissances. I guess all their good stuff is used up.
However, they still make good ice cream. And that is a good thing. I would go to Italy in a second. Love the place. But...oh, never mind. I'm glad the fangiulas are safe.
Geez, will they be stupid enough to go BACK?
Like you, I'm unhappy about any ransom. It will breed more evil. But still, I'm also glad these women are back safe.
I heard a rumor (from a very good source) they were asking $2 million for the Brit they are holding.
"One on the right reminds me of Shelley Duvall in Popeye."
Yes, very much so.
I actually heard on NPR that this kidnapping was a great shock to the "peace movement" in Italy. They didn't understand why the Islamofacists would kidnap those "sympathetic" to them.
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