CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Al-Jazeera has aired a tape of a hostage American reporter along with a statement saying the U.S. has three days to free female prisoners in Iraq or she will be killed. Al-Jazeera would not tell The Associated Press how it received the tape, but issued its own statement calling for Carroll’s release.
The tape showed the 28-year-old reporter sitting in front of a white background and speaking, but her voice could not be heard.
I haven’t seen it yet. I’m waiting for Aljazeera’s next news bulletin! I can’t write more! Every single bone in my body is shaking!
UPDATE: More of the same via MSNBC, where they too indicated the tape showed Jill and said there was no audio from the tape when aired. The story will likely be updated via this link. CNN has added some new information and published a statement to the kidnappers from Jill’s parents, Jim and Mary Beth, and her twin sister, Katie:
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.
Jill is a kind person whose love for Iraq and the Iraqi people are evident in her articles. She has been welcomed into the homes of many Iraqis and shown every courtesy.
From that experience, she understands the hardships and suffering that the Iraqi people face every day. 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.
UPDATE 2: I just finished watching the heart-wrenching video on Aljazeera. My dear Jill looked extremely tired but somehow better than I expected. She looked like she hadn’t been sleeping. I’m going crazy here but still praying and hoping for her quick release. I’m hoping that the kidnappers still have some mercy left in them so they can release this innocent young woman, who is but a pawn in the current political mayhem.
Following the airing of the tape, Aljazeera’s anchor read a statement from Aljazeera that appealed for Jill’s release. I hope the kidnappers were watching. In addition, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has appealed for Jill’s release:
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.
CAIR’s statement will be translated into Arabic and distributed to Middle Eastern media outlets. I hope other Muslim organizations follow suit with efforts to appeal to the kidnappers that snatched an innocent in war-torn, a woman there to report the truth and nothing but the truth.
Meanwhile, the US State Department responded to the videotape with a statement: "We continue to make every effort we can, working with Iraqis and others, to see Miss Carroll is returned safe and sound," spokesman Sean McCormack said.
UPDATE 3: MSNBC’s translator Alfred Arian said the tape showed the logo of a group calling itself the Revenge Brigade. The same group claimed responsibility for a Jan. 4 kidnapping of the Iraqi interior minister’s sister, asking for the release of female prisoners at that time as well, according to an NBC News report Tuesday.
UPDATE 4: According to Aljazeera’s English website, the kidnappers have identified themselves as members of a previously unknown armed group calling itself the "Brigades of Vengeance."
To the retired US marine. Thanks for raising the issue of FGM – female genital mutilation.
However, when you wrote of it you should have specified that there has been only ONE report concerning FGM in Iraq, and that in Northern Iraq, in the Kurdish areas. Areas not under Saddam’s control.
The Kurds the US called its allies. The Kurds in the presidency.
We can’t pin that one on him, too. But it is a valiant try.
FGM is a predominantly African practise that has spread to some parts of the Arab world – Egypt, Sudan and so on.
In any case, whether it is one case or one hundred it is no less outrageous and condemnable.
As for Saddam and al-qaida…sigh…maybe you haven’t read all the congressional reports and dozens of intelligence reports saying any relationship cited by the Bush administration there was bogus.
I think its a shame that this woman is caught in the middle of ignorance. My family and i will continue to pray that she is freed without harm. These people have no human values for life. maybe the war was not for the reason made out to be but what if we didn’t free the people in Iraq. Can you imagine what it was like for them people living in fear of thier life every day getting tourcherd for petty things. Jill Carroll we dont know each other but you are in our hearts as if you were part of the family may god be with you and his angels keep you safe from harm lots of love and prayer the williams family.
They have no right to kidnap/Kill innocent people like that !
They are just a bunch of ignorant insurgents who are using religion for their own ends ,I`’m a moslem but killing people and kidnapping people is not even in the”Koran” and now the question is how could they do that and everytime they kill someone they always said “ALLAH AKBAR” That is tottaly Bullshit !ALLAH has nothing to do with kidnap/killing and things like that ,every religion teach that killing and kidnaping people is inspiring evil !!!!
But anyway for Jill Caroll and family I hope that all is going to be fine and we shall pray for it.
American soldiers and civilians should NOT be there any longer. Please pray for this girl’s safety, then bring her and EVERYONE else home.
As a retired US marine ,I have spilled my blood all over the lands of foreign nations for thier cause and freedom. There will never be deals made with terrorists. It is the saddest thing that people like Jill become the victims of this kind of oppression ,look back through history at what Germany did ,the holocost ,were the jews not innocent? did the US and the allied forces pull out ? if we had we might all be living under a different government and speaking a different language. Beleave what you will ,oil is only a minor coincidense in the matter of Iraq ,most propaganda would like you to beleave that it was the major cause for this war ,sorry ,but thats your bullshit right there. With no retaliation for 9-11 ,how far do you think that Saddam would go under the assumption that no one would ever put him and tha al queda together? ,after all ,what kind of freedom is there in a country that sexually mutilates little girls? (speaking of the cauterization of the clit ,one of many FACTS that have been reported ) If you don’t take a stand ,you’re spineless and you deserve what you get ,if you unable to make a stand ,myself and the rest of the us forces will be there to step up and defend you ,HOO RAA!!!