November 25, 2003

CALL THE ABC

Yvonne Ridley, the former Sunday Express reporter who converted to Islam after being imprisoned by the Taliban, has been fired by al-Jazeera. Now she’s stuck in Qatar without an exit visa. At least her faith will keep her strong:

"I think Islam has had a really positive effect on my life. It's made me more tolerant, more philosophical and much more calm. I feel far healthier and more confident."

And unemployed.

Posted by Tim Blair at November 25, 2003 03:54 PM
Comments

Just keep her away from any explosives.

Posted by: gaz at November 25, 2003 at 05:55 PM

...and far more stupid.

Posted by: perfectsense at November 25, 2003 at 07:44 PM

The Stockholm Syndrome. To Gitmo with her.

Posted by: Byron the Aussie at November 25, 2003 at 08:48 PM

"'I feel far healthier and more confident.'

And unemployed."

And trapped.

Posted by: Carey Gage at November 25, 2003 at 10:56 PM

Wait...She got captured by the TALIBAN and she still converted? That's like getting caught by the Inquisition and converting to Catholicism. It just makes no sense.

Posted by: madne0 at November 25, 2003 at 11:13 PM

From the article:

"Today, she refuses to denounce (Abu Hamza), to whom she had spoken many times as a reporter. "As a Muslim, I don't think it's constructive to criticise other Muslims."

"In fact I've criticised various Muslim leaders for criticising him."

Uh-huh.

Posted by: Malcolm J. at November 26, 2003 at 12:38 AM

I like the part where she says she was unlucky. Wow. Make incredibly bad decisions, have crappy results, it's all bad luck. Who could have predicted? Of course, anyone who would take Robert Fisk as an example pretty much deserves whatever happens.

Posted by: JorgXMcKie at November 26, 2003 at 12:55 AM

Madne0- She did convert after being held by the Taliban, but she already had a son by a Palestinian father so she was probably already into that sort of thing. Oh and I think quite a few people converted to Catholicism after a session with the inquisition, the ones who survived anyway.

Posted by: Ross at November 26, 2003 at 03:09 AM

True Ross, nothing like a bit of molten lead to help you see the error of your ways. Gitmo oppressors, take note!

Posted by: Bob Bunnett at November 26, 2003 at 07:51 AM

From the article:

"Jihad Ballout, a spokesman for al-Jazeera, initially said..."

I won't know what he said until I sop up the coffee I sprayed all over the monitor when I read that name.

Posted by: Lynxx Pherrett at November 27, 2003 at 02:03 PM