Posted on 08/27/2006 6:41:55 AM PDT by mcg2000
GAZA (Reuters) - Two kidnapped Fox journalists appeared on a new videotape released by their captors on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, in which the reporters said they had converted to Islam, the Fox News Channel said.
Palestinian Interior Minister Saeed Seyam said efforts were under way to secure within hours the release of Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36.
Both journalists appeared to be in good health in the new video. They were seized on August 14.
They were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading a statement which Fox said was an announcement that they had converted to Islam. At times in the video they were wearing long Muslim robes.
Wiig called on leaders of the West to stop "hiding behind the 'I don't negotiate with terrorists' myth". He then read some words in Arabic.
"The issue of the two kidnapped journalists is on the way to being resolved," Seyam told Reuters. "Efforts are under way with several parties to secure their release within the coming hours."
The previously unknown Holy Jihad Brigades claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the kidnapping and had warned the United States to free Muslim prisoners or the captives would face unspecified consequences. The deadline expired on Saturday.
The United States has said it would not make "concessions to terrorists".
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.
"They worked out a convoluted deal which entailed their public conversion to Islam, an anti-American harangue on air and a six-figure cash ransom paid under the table to Dughmush to fund his terrorist militia’s operations in Gaza. While the first two parts of the ransom were publicly aired, the third part will no doubt be vehemently denied."
Sort of like the Inquisition where Spanish Dominican Friars forced conversion among Jews and Moors.
I’m sure the press at even al-Jazeera won’t report favorably on the press being captured and forced to convert for freedom. There are probably dozens of kook Wahhabist-Salafist rags that will run editorials in its favor, but they’re just preaching to the jihadists.
Actually I think this is good news. Maybe some on the left will now understand that Christianity is not the problem and that Islam is the one truly CRAZY and dangerous religion that the world faces.
Yes,but nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition.
I would have made love to a goat on video if it kept my head on my shoulders and got me back to my family.
The chaff is fairly jumping off the wheat these days, eh old FRiend?
One can hardly blame them for what they did, but they're not safe yet. They should get out of the Middle East and never come back, because once a person converts to Islam he cannot reverse his conversion. He will suffer a death sentence as that woman who converted to Christianity is suffering.
Well, gee. Seems like this "forced conversion at gunpoint" was anything but.
By your own post: "They worked out a convoluted deal."
I don't believe this.
"One can only imagine the uproar in the islamic world if Christians were to kidnap a couple of muslims and force them to convert to Christianity.
Islam continues to show just what a dirty, gutter religion it really is."
Worth repeating.
I'm not sure but, doesn't it say some where in the Bible (paraphrased)that he who denies me, I will deny him before my Father?
Yes, "a deal" not to be shot. What’s difficult to understand about that?
It really does seem that the “chaff is fairly jumping off the wheat these days”.
please see, if you haven't already, it was a snip from there and shouldn't be taken out of context:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1690790/posts
I was so happy when I saw they were free. Then I saw that video of them with the head Hamas thug, and Centanni saying how beautiful the Pal people were. I felt like crying, I was so let down. THEN, I heard about the forced conversion. I don't blame them, but am disappointed. I'm sick of Islam. Absolutely sick of it. Nothing good comes from it. Even their effing charities are fronts for terror groups. It's all vile.
Time to put them on FNC, play the video, and have them both say "PSYCH!"
You are absolutely right. The Crusades were necessary. They understood that the muslims would not stop and could not be bargained with.
At what point will Western civilization and Christianity realize that? I fear not until it's too late.
There are people who write on message boards who are truly evil,too.
Thank you, God, if you have answered the prayers of these 2 Americans who were kidnapped by savages.
The second group would certainly be larger than the first.
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