Jill Carroll's captors issue videotape demands
-17/01/06
The Iraqi captors of US freelance journalist Jill Carroll, who was kidnapped on 7 January 2006, have issued a videotape demanding that the Americans release all women prisoners from the country's jails.
If not, the unknown group say, Ms Carroll - who has specialised on Iraq for two years and was on an assignment for the Christian Science Monitor - will be killed.
The 20-second tape was aired by the Arab satellite network Al-Jazeera earlier today, after it was delivered to them anonymously.
In the footage, Ms Carroll, aged 28, is shown sitting in front of a white background and speaking, but her voice is inaudible.
She looks pale and appears tired, and her long straight brown hair is parted in the middle and pulled back off her face.
A still photograph of Ms Carroll from the videotape, which later appeared on the Al-Jazeera website, carried a logo in the bottom right corner that read "The Revenge Brigade." But security analysts say that this is not a name with which they are familiar.
The US State Department told Associated Press today that officials were doing everything possible to win the young journalist's release.
"We continue to make every effort we can, working with Iraqis and others, to see [Jill] Carroll is returned safe and sound," said spokesperson Sean McCormack.
The Christian Science Monitor also released a statement from her family pleading with her captors to set her free.
"Jill is an innocent journalist and we respectfully ask that you please show her mercy and allow her to return home to her mother, sister and family," the statement said.
It continued: "Jill is a friend and sister to many Iraqis and has been dedicated to bringing the truth of the Iraq war to the world. We appeal for the speedy and safe return of our beloved daughter and sister."
The Boston-based independent paper, which has in the past won the Pulitzer prize for its innovative coverage, said over the weekend that it continued "to pursue every possible avenue" to win her release.
The US military sparked uproar by raiding a prominent Sunni mosque a day after Ms Carroll was kidnapped, based on a tip-off.
The Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars which is based at the mosque has joined past appeals for the release of four Christian Peacemaker Teams activists, along with the main Sunni political party.
The SCMS confirmed that one of its members and five mosque guards were arrested in the US raid.
The committee has accused American soldiers of desecrating the mosque and carrying away files containing the names of members.
"The attack on the Umm al-Qura mosque is an attack on Muslims and Islam," read a banner at the demonstration.
Despite her Arabic language skills, Ms Carroll used an Iraqi translator - a Christian man who was killed by the kidnappers.
The driver of their car escaped and is now safe with his family, David Clark Scott, the Monitor's international news editor, said.
The reporter and her assistants were on their way to meet Adnan al Dulaimi, the head of the Iraqi Consensus Front, a Sunni coalition, when the ambush and abduction took place.
US Muslim groups have condemned the kidnapping, as they did in the case of the four Christian peace workers - Norman Kember, Tom Fox, Jim Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden.
"Journalists must be free to report on conflicts worldwide without fear of being targeted by combatants. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jill Carroll and for the release of all hostages held in Iraq. No cause can be served by harming those who only seek to convey the human suffering caused by war," reads a statement released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
[Also on Ekklesia: Regular updates on FaithInSociety [0] weblog; News: Peacemaker vigils in Washington and Toronto focus on Iraq policy [1] 17/01/06 (includes complete index of related articles on this site); Catholic Worker plans Guantanamo protests over Lent [2] 17/01/06; Norman Kember remembered across UK [3] 15/01/06; Supporters of Iraq captives reissue media appeals [4] 14/01/06; More UK vigils keep focus on Norman Kember [5] 13/01/06; Christian peacemakers highlight prisoner abuse in Iraq [6] 12/01/06; Protests as US raids Sunni mosque in Iraq hostage search [7] 11/01/06; Australian Muslim seeks freedom for Christian Peacemakers [8] 11/01/06; Iraqi search for kidnapped Christian Science Monitor reporter [9] 11/01/06; British diplomats continue Norman Kember search [10] 09/01/06; Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four [11] 08/01/06; Release of French engineer brings Iraq hostage hope [12] 08/01/06; Journalist kidnapped in Iraq as friends pray for peace workers [13] 07/01/06; Anti-war MP takes politics and religion into Big Brother [14] 06/01/06; Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers [15] 06/01/06; Norman Kember's wife in new TV appeal to Iraq captors [16] 06/01/06; New London vigil for Norman Kember announced [17] 04/01/06; Christian Peacemaker Teams seek meeting with President Bush [18] 04/01/06; Speculation continues over kidnapped peace workers in Iraq [19] 04/01/06; Middle East Christians and Muslims renew plea for Iraq captives [20] 01/01/06; Baptists urge support for Norman Kember [21] 31/12/05; Vigils go on for Christian Peacemaker Teams hostages in Iraq [22] 30/12/05. Key book: Patricia Gates-Brown (ed.), Getting in the Way: Stories from Christian Peacemaker Teams [23], Herald Press; All faiths candlelit vigil in London for Norman Kember [24]; Kember supporters urged to keep hope alive [25]; Christians and Muslims show continued support for Norman Kember [26]; Former Guantanamo Bay detainees call for release of Christian peace workers [27]]
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