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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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Forced conversion to Islam?

At gunpoint?

And this from that gang that is always ranting and raving about "human rights" violations and the anti-Muslim offenses and policies of "Crusaders" and "Zionists"?

We anxiously await the outpouring of condemnation from MANY AND MULTIPLE Muslim clergy and laity, individuals and groups:

1. REPUDIATING ALL FORCED CONVERSIONS TO ISLAM;

2. PROCLAIMING MODERN ISLAM'S UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION.

What do you think we're likely to hear?

A deafening chorus of mullahs or of crickets?

1 posted on 08/27/2006 8:48:05 AM PDT by TaxachusettsMan
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To: TaxachusettsMan

I fart in Islam's general direction!


2 posted on 08/27/2006 8:52:41 AM PDT by MarineBrat (Muslims - The "flesh eating bacteria" version of humans.)
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To: TaxachusettsMan
"Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam,"

Hey Steve, you can stop the BS now.

3 posted on 08/27/2006 8:55:01 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: TaxachusettsMan

Muslims sure have a way of showing us just exactly what they are.

"A bunch of cowards that get their power by holding a gun to innocents".


4 posted on 08/27/2006 8:56:05 AM PDT by fabriclady
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To: MarineBrat
And I spit in the general direction of reporters who sit with Hamas and praise Pals and beautiful and kind people.

We shall see if they give the same respect and gushing praise to the Israeli and US's gov and people.

Not!
5 posted on 08/27/2006 8:56:05 AM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: TaxachusettsMan

Steve Centanni told Sheperd Smith this morning Live per phone that they were forced per gunpoint to convert to Islam. He said Thank God we are free. He did not say thank Allah


6 posted on 08/27/2006 8:56:06 AM PDT by Kaslin (No matter what the left says. G.W. Bush will be remembered as the best president of this century)
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To: TaxachusettsMan
How lucky. The journalists get to live and are allowed to join the world's fastest growing religion.

No doubt significantly better than having your head handed to you.

7 posted on 08/27/2006 8:56:28 AM PDT by SFCGeraldRTostensen (Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe i'll have another beer.)
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To: TaxachusettsMan

Each of us (Christians) should ask ourselves:

Do I have the strength to proclaim my faith and NOT deny Christ?


8 posted on 08/27/2006 8:57:47 AM PDT by G Larry (Only strict constructionists on the Supreme Court!)
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To: TaxachusettsMan
Newsflash to Stevie: The Sons of the Desert tend to exalt form over substance when it comes to theology [requires zero thought that way]. So, no more sausage , peppers and onions for you. You're in. And, like my paisanos [where membership is still voluntary]; once in, never out.

So watch your back, Steverino. I believe the penalty for apostasy with these clowns is getting whacked.
9 posted on 08/27/2006 8:59:41 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: TaxachusettsMan

This is excellent news to hear on a bight Sunday morning. For once, let's thank God in our prayers this morning that these two were released alive and well. I certainly feel that my prayers have been answered.


10 posted on 08/27/2006 9:00:40 AM PDT by Bean Counter (Stout hearts!!)
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To: TaxachusettsMan

Religion of Peace ?

.


11 posted on 08/27/2006 9:00:40 AM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: TaxachusettsMan
I wouldn't have converted to save my life. I don't know how much torture I could take, but would take a bullet in the head.

I'm not the martyr type and am not that strong in my own religion, but I don't believe Islam is right. Forced conversions are an abomination. Period.

How can he say they are good and kind people when they did that to them, maybe they were bluffing, maybe it was a condition of their release? I can see where they might do it for the sake of their families. That one guy was 60 years old. He doesn't have that long left in this world one way or another. Maybe if you have no religious beliefs at all, it doesn't matter, just the pragmatic thing to do.

12 posted on 08/27/2006 9:01:03 AM PDT by Aliska
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To: TaxachusettsMan
1. REPUDIATING ALL FORCED CONVERSIONS TO ISLAM;

I'm sure CAIR is writing up a statement.....[/s]

Of course, it will probably be something like this convoluted statement from Arrests of 6 Tamils from Canada leaves Tamil-Canadians shocked and concerned:

“The members of the Tamil community are in unison in deploring the thought process that would have compelled someone to conceive this idea. In the strongest of terms possible, we categorically condemn this isolated incident,”
13 posted on 08/27/2006 9:03:30 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: TaxachusettsMan

Does anyone have any idea about what 'world opinion' would be if American forces in Iraq were forcing Iraqis to convert to Christianity, at gunpoint?


14 posted on 08/27/2006 9:03:36 AM PDT by fhayek
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To: Aliska
"maybe they were bluffing, maybe it was a condition of their release?"

Obviously it was.

15 posted on 08/27/2006 9:04:15 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Aliska

Not long to live at 60?

Former President Ford just had a pace maker and another heart procedure in his mid 90's. Steve could live another 35 years.


16 posted on 08/27/2006 9:06:49 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, over there, We won't be back 'til it's over Over there.")
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To: G Larry

"Do I have the strength to proclaim my faith and NOT deny Christ?
"

Oh, I suspect these guys weren't really converted, don't you? It's what's in your mind that counts, not lies told to captors, I'd guess.


17 posted on 08/27/2006 9:06:54 AM PDT by MineralMan (Non-evangelical Atheist)
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To: TomGuy
We know where CAIR stands:

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."

Omar Ahmad, Co-founder of CAIR

18 posted on 08/27/2006 9:06:59 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo

"Well shi'ite Abdullah, nobody gives a crock about us.How abouts we convert the infidels at gunpoint and call it a day?"


19 posted on 08/27/2006 9:07:00 AM PDT by aft_lizard (born conservative...I chose to be a republican)
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To: TaxachusettsMan
Islam is a mental illness! There are no mainstream peaceful Muslims. Should Islam gain a political plurality in any country, you'd be stunned at how quickly the so called "Mainstream peaceful Muslims" get on board with the radicals. Reason? They don't want to die either.

I cringe when I hear our President characterize Islam as one of the world's great religions.

20 posted on 08/27/2006 9:07:32 AM PDT by davisfh
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