Posted on 08/27/2006 2:59:20 AM PDT by Hannibal Hamlin
Kidnapped Fox reporters "convert to Islam" on video
Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:20 AM EDT
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Two kidnapped journalists for the American Fox News Channel appeared on a new videotape released by their captors on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, saying they had converted to Islam.
Palestinian Interior Minister Saeed Seyam said efforts were under way to secure the release of Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, within hours.
Both journalists appeared to be in good health in the new video. They were seized on August 14 by a previously unknown group called the Holy Jihad Brigades.
The two men were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading statements announcing that they had converted to Islam. At times in the video they were wearing long Muslim robes.
"I changed my name to Khaled. I have embraced Islam and say the word Allah," Centanni said.
Wiig called on leaders of the West to stop "hiding behind the 'I don't negotiate with terrorists' myth."
Interior Minister Seyam of the governing militant movement Hamas expressed optimism the ordeal for the two reporters would soon be over.
"Efforts are under way with several parties to secure their release within the coming hours," he told Reuters.
The Holy Jihad Brigades claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the kidnapping and had warned the United States to free Muslim prisoners to prevent the captives facing unspecified consequences. The deadline expired on Saturday.
The United States has said it will not make "concessions to terrorists."
A separate statement from the captors said: "They chose Islam and that is a gift that God gives those whom he chooses."
A videotape released on Wednesday showed the two men, dressed in tracksuits, sitting on a blanket in front of a black background. They appeared fairly relaxed and in good health. Both said that they were fine and being treated well.
The kidnapping is the longest-lasting abduction of foreigners in the Palestinian coastal strip in more than a year.
The Hamas-led government has called for the men to be freed while several prominent militant groups in Gaza have denied involvement and also said the men should be freed.
Previous kidnappings of foreigners have usually ended after a few hours, or at most a few days, of captivity.
But I think this is all a formality. It was done, no doubt, to provide a way of saving face for the kidnappers. Now they can say, "well, we released them because they converted," even though their absurd demands were not met.
As a Catholic I believe that denouncing Christ would be an exceptional circumstance for ME. Of course it's easy to say when I've not been in that kind of situation, but I pray that the Holy Spirit would be with me.
Transcript of Steve Centani Allah Video
My name is Steve, I am an American. After I entered Islam, I changed my name to Khaled.
I have embraced Islam and say the word Allah. The leader is the Prophet Mohammed. Peace be upon him.
Islam is not meant just for some people but , it is the true religion for all people in all times.
Westerners are following the wrong path and I hope they realize that uh, I hope they realize that and change their ways, I hope I can help them to do that, Insha allah.
Islam helps people to love mercy, brotherhood, equality and justice.
There is no justification for invading Afghanistan and bringing death, injury and suffering to innocent men, women and children.
There is no justice when USA invades Iraq and again, leaving death, injury and suffering in its wake,
the suffering of innocent men, women and children.
Allah knows and sees all of these injustices and according to the Koran, disbelivers will be cast into an eternal fire. But Allah also is ever merciful and the West can change its ways and turn to the purifying power of Islam. The Muslims are good people and have allah in their hearts. And, its an offense against Islam and against Allah when muslim people are imprisoned in Abu Ghraib and tortured in their. Islam forbids torture even of non-muslims. Muslim people belive in peace and they love brotherhood.
I have a message for President Bush as well. Islam is not fascism. Words like that only serve to deepen the great chasm between peoples, to fan the flames of anger and distrust that already burn in the Muslim world.
The West is seen as waging war on Islam, and these words, Islamic fascists only reconfirm that belief among many. Please President Bush, please Tony Blair, open your minds to Islam and bring peace to all people around the world.
The tape continues with Olaf Wiig
with the same kind of propaganda they were forced to read.
I've run into even more Christians who believe the same thing.
Every day they prove it actually is by despicable actions like this.
No, this was a way to get Centanni and Wiig out of the middle east forever. They can never go back to report from Palestine again or their hotel bellboy or someone will slit their throats as apostates.
It also makes Abbas and Hamas look good in the eyes of the diplomats, since Abbas and Hamas supposedly "worked with the captors" to get them released.
It's a message to all Fox News reporters: "You will toe the line and report what we want the way AP and CNN do, or we'll exile you from the mideast forever on pain of death. Hell, once you're in our hands we might just kill you anyway, if we don't feel the need for a propaganda victory that week!"
Plus I should also point out that as apostates they are now under death sentences worldwide. Any muslim could wait outside the Fox News building for Centanni to come out and then blow him away.
These guys will have to watch over their shoulders for the rest of their lives, just like Salman Rushdie.
I don't believe this.
Thanks for the chuckle....nay, the ROFLMAO.
Leni
Steve Centani, we do not blame you for telling these mosters what thay want to hear just so that you can stay alive. You are still a hero. We know that you will denounce them for the savages that they are once you are free.
Semper Fi'
Jarhead
And do it while eating a big old pork chop!
Exactly the point of my tagline, a certain church has grown it's membership for nearly two centuries by scarring parents into believing their child will go to hell if he/she isn't baptised!
LMBO. Dagnabit. I was trying to stay focused. :)
I know that, but it's like the scorpion and the turtle crossing the river.... the MSM (not Fox) will play it just because it's Fox....(the scorpion said after he stung the turtle carrying him across the river keeping him from drowning...."I just couldn't help myself!".......)
No offense to you sir, but instead of being schooled in the historic Muslim texts, I would prefer current subscribers to Islam start identifying these maniacs and 'actively' assisting in their neutralization (peaceful or otherwise).
Words Steve Centanni was forced to say during his coerced and under duress conversion to islam:
"Islam forbids torture even of non-muslims. Muslim people belive in peace and they love brotherhood."
Please note, Centanni was forced to say these very words being videotaped with a gun to his head and they dare made him say:"Islam forbids torture even of non-muslims."
What MORE proof of these terrorists lies is needed to show that these terrorists scum are nothing more than sub-human waste????
"What MORE proof of these terrorists lies is needed....?"
I was thinking the same thing. This in-your-face contradiction is a huge victory in the WOT.
Many more people are more aware of the hypocrisy now.
"Since the kidnappers...couldn't get any money for them..."
Sorry, but I beg to differ. Although it will be kept an absolute secret, I believe Fox New paid the kidnappers a large sum for releasing these two men, whom they had to release anyway.
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52960
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