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FOX Journalists Forced At Gunpoint To Convert To Islam
FOX News Website ^ | August 27, 2006 | FOX News

Posted on 08/27/2006 8:48:04 AM PDT by TaxachusettsMan

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two FOX News journalists were released by their kidnappers Sunday, nearly two weeks after they were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.

Steve Centanni, 60, and Olaf Wiig, 36, left Gaza and have since crossed into Israel after their release. The men left Gaza through the Erez border crossing.

The freeing of Centanni, a correspondent, and Wiig, a cameraman, ends the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in Gaza.

The two journalists were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials and appeared to be in good health. A tearful Centanni embraced a Palestinian journalist briefly as he entered, then rushed upstairs as Wiig followed.

Centanni, in a phone interview shortly after his release, said "I'm fine. I'm just so happy to be free."

He recounted how he and Wiig were pulled out of their car on August 14 and taken at gunpoint into another car. The kidnappers blindfolded them and handcuffed their hands behind their backs with plastic ties. They were then transferred to another car and driven to a building that they later learned was a garage.

"We were pushed down onto the dirt-covered concrete floor and we were forced to lie face down with our handcuffs on," Centanni said.

"Olaf was in the same room with me. Our shoulders were wrenched back, very painful."

Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.

"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: centanni; conversion; crushislam; forcedconversions; foxnews; gaza; gunpointconversions; hostages; islam; islamicfascists; islamicterrorism; islamisadeathcult; islamisalie; islamisevil; islamistheproblem; islammustdie; islamofascism; islamsucks; knowislamnopeace; koranimals; lyingmuslims; lyingterrorists; mediamorons; muslim; muslims; nomoderatemuslims; norespectforislam; notareligionofpeace; notreligionofpeace; olafwiig; religion; religionofpeacenot; rop; torturedconversions; trop; waronislam; wot
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To: davisfh
Wow. Three exclamation points. Nice that you're proud of your bigotry and stupidity. At least I hope you're merely stupid. If not you actually realize that you're actively (within your thankfully limited ability) proselytizing the single most important, and most effectual, propaganda point of our enemy: that theirs is the normative, the true, indeed the only Islam. Hell, they ought to make you an Imam.
261 posted on 08/27/2006 2:46:54 PM PDT by Stultis
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To: NYer

Not me!


262 posted on 08/27/2006 2:48:17 PM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, over there, We won't be back 'til it's over Over there.")
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To: Dengar01
1. No - never said that. I don't know their faith. I'm speaking (as many here) of the situation they were in and what we as Christians would and should do, not that 'I' said it, simply what the Bible states.
2. overly righteous? I don't think so. We're just quoting Scripture as to what it says regarding this - I think we've all been pretty humble to state that we hope and pray we'd do the right thing before God - since He promises the strength and the way to do so - always.
3. You are correct - Jesus did say that the angels rejoice with repentence and returning.
4. Please show where what has been stated as true belief and/or facts of faith contradict Scripture.
5. I try not to tempt God. If He wanted me specifically to do such (go to Gaza with a 'Jesus Saves' sign), He'd give strength and a way to do it and I would trust Him that no matter what happened, I'm in His control and hands to keep me or bring me home.
263 posted on 08/27/2006 2:50:19 PM PDT by time4good
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To: TaxachusettsMan
and He still has the highest respect for Islam? O.K reassign him back to Lebanon.
264 posted on 08/27/2006 2:54:49 PM PDT by patriciamary
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To: TaxachusettsMan

"Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam"

Then you're a farging idiot, ya dimwitted media slug.


265 posted on 08/27/2006 2:55:02 PM PDT by dsc
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To: Aliska
It's great that both of these men have been released.

As for their recent conversion, at the time of their judgement, I trust God will treat them as they should be treated.

As for me, I'll make no judgement.

266 posted on 08/27/2006 3:04:36 PM PDT by TravisBickle (Are you talkin' to me?)
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To: dervish

Actually during WW2 , I have read many Jewish holocaust memoirs , where the Jewish rabbi & ( And Jewish Council ) gave permisson for the Jewish adults & children to be put in Catholic covenants under FALSE Christian papers in France , Poland & Italy. Also the JOINT was aware & helped too ! Many different Jewish rabbi's said to preserve the Jewish race from extinction The Jewish people could pretend to be Christians . In some Jewish holocaust memoirs the Jewish person ACTUALLY posed as A Muslim . If you look at SOME Hungary Jewish memoirs you can find the info !!!


267 posted on 08/27/2006 3:19:36 PM PDT by DvdMom (Impeach Nifong -)
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To: Stultis
Stultis? Does that have anything to do with the word "stultify," meaning to render useless or ineffectual;to cause to appear stupid, inconsistent or ridiculous. I could go on, but I wont.

I read your rambling "about" page. It has been my practice to shun those who make attempts at poetry to get their point across. I present this and rest my case.

"Strange, and sad, how relevant this still is, from Jeane Kirkpatrick's speech to the 1984 Republican National Convention:

They said that saving Grenada from terror and totalitarianism was the wrong thing to do - they didn't blame Cuba or the communists for threatening American students and murdering Grenadians - they blamed the United States instead.

But then, somehow, they always blame America first.

When our Marines, sent to Lebanon on a multinational peacekeeping mission with the consent of the United States Congress, were murdered in their sleep, the "blame America first crowd" didn't blame the terrorists who murdered the Marines, they blamed the United States.

But then, they always blame America first.

When the Soviet Union walked out of arms control negotiations, and refused even to discuss the issues, the San Francisco Democrats didn't blame Soviet intransigence. They blamed the United States.

But then, they always blame America first.

When Marxist dictators shoot their way to power in Central America, the San Francisco Democrats don't blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United States policies of 100 years ago.

But then, they always blame America first.

The American people know better.

They know that Ronald Reagan and the United States didn't cause Marxist dictatorship in Nicaragua, or the repression in Poland, or the brutal new offensives in Afghanistan, or the destruction of the Korean airliner, or the new attacks on religious and ethnic groups in the Soviet Union, or the jamming of western broadcasts, or the denial of Jewish emigration, or the brutal imprisonment of Anatoly Shcharansky and Ida Nudel, or the obscene treatment of Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner, or the re-Stalinization of the Soviet Union.

The American people know that it's dangerous to blame ourselves for terrible problems that we did not cause.

They understand just as the distinguished French writer, Jean Francois Revel, understands the dangers of endless self- criticism and self-denigration.

He wrote: "Clearly, a civilization that feels guilty for everything it is and does will lack the energy and conviction to defend itself."

With the election of Ronald Reagan, the American people declared to the world that we have the necessary energy and conviction to defend ourselves, and that we have as well a deep commitment to peace.

And now, the American people, proud of our country, proud of our freedom, proud of ourselves, will reject the San Francisco Democrats and send Ronald Reagan back to the White House."

268 posted on 08/27/2006 3:20:32 PM PDT by davisfh
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To: TravisBickle
Same here, and of course I'm glad they were released. They just could not release them without that. It didn't happen with the Iranian hostages. I remember a Catholic man who endured that ordeal because they let him have a bible, and it deepened his faith. Different time, different people in control.

I started thinking about this convert-or-die business vis a vis the Muslims way before 9/11, don't know what brought it about really. Something in the news at the time triggered it.

Many fled to this country already to avoid having making that choice. There was a way out for them. Some were not so fortunate as worldly eyes would view it.

269 posted on 08/27/2006 3:37:51 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: antonia
That was an excellent post! islam is a political system. Not a religion.

And there are no "moderate moslems", because there is no moderate koran.

270 posted on 08/27/2006 3:40:45 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (You! Shake your junk!)
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To: PzLdr
"You're in. And, like my paisanos [where membership is still voluntary]; once in, never out."

Relax said the nightman

We are programmed to receive

You can check out any time you like

But you can never leave

271 posted on 08/27/2006 4:25:37 PM PDT by Earthdweller (:0)
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To: McGavin999; Hildy

Thanks to you both for what you have posted...I agree completely with the both of you...


272 posted on 08/27/2006 4:33:48 PM PDT by andysandmikesmom
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To: Kaslin
So much for his "conversion" -- well he did have his hands cuffed behind his back. Maybe he crossed his fingers when he said it.
273 posted on 08/27/2006 4:46:27 PM PDT by pray4liberty (School District horrors: http://totallyunjust.tripod.com)
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To: davisfh

So you promote Islamist propaganda AND you find Jeane Kirkpatrick "rambling". Some FReeper.


274 posted on 08/27/2006 4:55:08 PM PDT by Stultis
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To: TaxachusettsMan

"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns..."

Coward.

When told to convert or be shot, the only correct response for a Christian is "Go ahead and shoot".

What the hell happened to Western manhood? What the hell happened to "death before dishonor"? During the Roman prsecutions, Christians were willing to be lit up as human torches and torn apart bit by bit by lions rather than burn one tiny pinch of incense at the altar of Caesar. Today, we can't even stand up to some smelly barbarian with a gun!

Look, a bullet to the brain is an easy way to go. A lifetime of guilt and recrimination would be a far worse fate. Peter had to suffer the pain of his denials for the rest of his life.

Of course, that's assuming a man has a sense of honor. In today's end-justifies-the-means world, any behavior is acceptable as long as one gains a few more days of "life". Personally, I'd rather die than live with the knowledge that someone caused me to betray with words the one Person I love the most.

Death isn't he worst thing that can happen to a man. I pity these two spineless beings.


275 posted on 08/27/2006 4:55:56 PM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: G Larry
Do I have the strength to proclaim my faith and NOT deny Christ?

At gunpoint!!!
I think it a better question about whether you make an insincere statement to crazy nuts you don't mean and then you get to live and go back later to help identify and kill them all.

Works for me.

276 posted on 08/27/2006 4:59:03 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Abd al-Rahiim
"Christians did it, too", and they did it too much in times past, and the Europeans finally became disillusioned. It'll happen to the Middle East, it just won't be in our lifetimes.

Yeah, but post-Christian Europe is Muslim.

277 posted on 08/27/2006 5:04:26 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (There's an open road from the cradle to the tomb.)
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To: trumandogz
Sounds almost like that little girl at Columbine High School that was asked if she loved Jesus Christ and when she said "Yes" she was killed.

Nice story, but not what happened.
278 posted on 08/27/2006 5:06:16 PM PDT by Xenalyte (No one will be sitting in sackcloth and ashes wailing, "Oh, if only we had listened to Art Bell!")
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To: fhayek

Very perceptive. A religion that preaches genocide!


279 posted on 08/27/2006 5:13:49 PM PDT by mckenzie7 (Parenthood is a gift)
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To: tioga; Kaslin; Aliska; Mr. Mojo; MineralMan; davisfh; hsalaw; widowithfoursons; TaxachusettsMan; ...
Each of us (Christians) should ask ourselves:
Do I have the strength to proclaim my faith and NOT deny Christ?

Rather than allowing one's self to be used as a blood sacrifice to the satanic god allah, far better it be to get safe and then proclaim the lie of islam.

Fox should do a day long special news program on how Islam 'converts' by force and intimidation. How it is not a religion , but a political system focused on putting unquestioned power in to the hands of Muslim men.

Islamofascist; Radical Islam is an insane death cult, and 'moderate' Islam is it's Trojan Horse in the West World.

Islam is not a religion; it embodies no concept of spirituality.

Islam is a political system.

The 'peace of allah' is the peace of ultimate submission, never having to question, never having to decide, just to do as you are told; the peace of the hive, a queen named allah and her many drone workers. Hence their need for five times a day periods of brainwashing.

Islam is a system of coercion.

280 posted on 08/27/2006 5:30:41 PM PDT by antonia (Build the Wall Now!)
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