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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Islamists release video of kidnapped BBC reporter |
| 2007-06-01 |
| Kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston has said in a video released by his captors today that they had treated him well. The undated video, posted on an Islamist website, is the first time Johnston has been seen or heard in public since he was seized on his way home from work on March 12. “First of all, my captors have treated me very well,” he said on the video issued by a group called the Army of Islam, which last month claimed responsibility for his kidnapping. “They have fed me well, there has been no violence towards me at all and I'm in good health,” said Johnston, wearing a red sweater and sitting against a dark grey background. The group repeated its demand on the video for Britain to free Muslim prisoners, particularly the Islamist cleric Abu Qatada. In London, a British Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are urgently trying to check out the reports.” The video, posted on an Islamist website often used by al-Qa'ida and other militant groups, was accompanied by what appeared to be a picture of the first page of Johnston's passport. Palestinian officials had often said they believed he was safe and well, but an email in the name of another group had said in April Johnston had been killed. Abu Qatada has been described by the British Government as a “significant international terrorist” with suspected close links to al-Qa'ida. He is one of more than a dozen Arab men whom Britain has been holding under detention or house arrest as threats to national security, while acknowledging that it does not have sufficient evidence to put them on trial. “In all this, you can see the British Government is endlessly working to occupy Muslim lands against the will of the people in those places,” Johnston said. He criticised the British military presence alongside the US in Afghanistan and Iraq. The tape was interrupted as Johnston started addressing his family members, and a text appeared in which the group said the BBC had refused to take Johnston's message to his family, without elaborating. It was again interrupted as Johnston was about to list the captors' demands for his release. What followed was part an audio tape issued by the Army of Islam on May 9 demanding the release of Abu Qatada and other Muslim detainees in Britain and other “infidel” countries. Saeb Erekat, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called the kidnappers “gangsters” who were harming the Palestinian cause and told the BBC in a telephone interview that Gaza authorities had to free Johnston, even if it entailed some kind of security operation. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #11 Old Patriot, the only aspect of your scenario that is open to question is merely a matter of when and not if. I have lost all hope of Islam reforming itself into anything other than radioactive vapor. All that remains to be seen is whether we do it to them before they do it to themselves. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-06-01 18:31 |
| #10 I've personally given up any hope of living in peace with anyone in the muzzie faith. The entire muddled east needs to be churned into talc and glazed into glass, from Algeria through Pakiwakiland, and from Turkey down through Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea. I'm about to relegate Indonesia and Malaysia, plus large parts of Bangladesh, to the same fate. Those living in non-muzzie countries will be given a choice - go home to whatever is left of the muddled east, convert to a non-violet religion, or be shot as 'enemies of freedom'. No exceptions. While the West is cleaning out the rest of the stupidity, Israel has the job of emptying the Gaza and West Bank of muzzies, as well as any living in Israel. Tell Russia and China to shove it - one nuke launched against the west means their total incineration. It's time to put a stop to this whole madness once and for all. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-06-01 15:26 |
| #9 And if he is "released" he should be sent to the Tower, have an uncomfortable stay and then face the headsman's ax. Decorate pikes on Tower Bridge to taste. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-06-01 14:50 |
| #8 Might have been more convincing if they'd sent one of his molars or a pinky finger...something along those lines. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-06-01 14:48 |
| #7 ZING! Snark award for 6-1-07 goes to McZoid. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-01 11:21 |
| #6 Moron logic: I beg my filthy, imperialist government to give in to my kind kidnappers so I can go home and spread their message back in the UK. Anti-Moron logic: We don't care if they play soccer with your fool head. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2007-06-01 11:14 |
| #5 ...and told the BBC in a telephone interview that Gaza authorities had to free Johnston, even if it entailed some kind of security operation. Hmmmmmm...sounds serious, bullets flying and all that. Somebody could get hurt, maybe even killed, maybe even the guy you're trying to get out. Might be worth the chance... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-06-01 09:00 |
| #4 There he is, playing Ping-Pong with Adam Gadahn, scrapbooking with Zawahiri, singing songs with Hamas Mickey Mouse. Feh. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-06-01 08:35 |
| #3 Good. Since they are getting along so well, he can just stay with them. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-01 08:16 |
| #2 Yep, there was speculation he arranged his own kidnapping. Possibly needing to shift his 'BBC balanced' view to what he really thinks as per the video. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2007-06-01 07:57 |
| #1 Seems to be healthy and in good spirits, staying with friends. An extended vacation on pay. What's the problem? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-06-01 07:43 |