Jihad Unspun returning

[Vancouver]

Under the name JUS One News
http://www.jusonenews.com/
It has been inactive for some weeks, because Bev Giesbrecht was busy with her day job.

[Vancouver]

From one of the Toronto threads...

One other unimportant sidelight: Don't be surprised if Jihad Unspun gets shut down soon. It is hosted in Canada and run by Canadian Bev Giesbrecht alias Bruce Kennedy alias Bev Kennedy alias Khadija Abdul Qahaar alias Paul Morris-Read...

http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Apr/08-205989.html
Congratulations, Giesbrecht.

The Saudi-controlled asharq al-awsat newspaper translated that US government statement into Arabic
http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issue=9698&article=306115
and the translation looks okay except that it omits the detail that Islam Memo is based in Saudi Arabia.

Two more aliases of Giesbrecht, while I'm at it:
Zafir Jamaal
Ubaidah Al-Saif

[Casey]

From one of the Toronto threads...


The Saudi-controlled asharq al-awsat newspaper translated that US government statement into Arabic
http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issue=9698&article=306115
and the translation looks okay except that it omits the detail that Islam Memo is based in Saudi Arabia.

Two more aliases of Giesbrecht, while I'm at it:
Zafir Jamaal
Ubaidah Al-Saif
Here is the English version of that article.

I started translating it and realized that was from last year.

US Steps up its War on Terror Online

19/06/2005
By Mohammed Al-Shafey

London, Asharq Al-Awsat- The US Department of State is embarking on a media offensive to counter the false information carried out by three Islamic websites it accuses of waging a misleading campaign against US interests. A newspage has, recently, been added to the Department’s Arabic language website, http://usinfo.state.gov/ar/Archive/2...13-401696.html (http://usinfo.state.gov/ar/Archive/2005/May/13-401696.html) . Entitled “The Inaccurate Media”, it states that “this incorrect media, whether intentionally or not, deceives and creates suspicion and ill feeling. It also undermines the credibility of journalists.” “Our new webpage aims at rectifying false allegations about the United States in the media, exposing these sources, and helping readers to discover the truth about significant international events.” The three websites the US government considers major sources of misinformation, especially on events in Iraq , are: Islam Memo ( www.islammemo.cc (http://www.islammemo.cc/) ), the Free Arab Voice

(www.freearabvoice.org (http://www.freearabvoice.org/) ), and Jihad Unspun (www.jihadunspun.net (http://www.jihadunspun.net/) ).

The rest of the article is in the Digital Underground thread:
http://www.wincoast.com/forum/showthread.php?p=233145&highlight=Islam+Memo#post233145

[Casey]

I translated an interesting urgent snippet from Islam Memo this evening.

I am going to withold posting it at the moment because it is either disinformation or more than likely a heads up to strategy that is taking place around the Baghdad area right now.

I'll post it in a couple of days.

[Vancouver]

Well, jusonenews was supposed to be running yesterday, but there's nothing there yet, except a grandiose "media release" from a few days ago.
The old Jihad Unspun became inactive at about the same time that Free Arab Voice did. The latter contained English translations of sadistic lies in Islam Memo, translated by one Muhammad Abu (al-)Nasr.
http://www.freearabvoice.org/newsbytes/AgainstAbuNasr.htm
Some of those translations were copied by Jihad Unspun and credited to Ubaidah al-Saif, who is presumably just an invention of Bev Giesbrecht. It would be nice to know who Muhammad Abu Nasr is, or was.

Islam Memo originates in Saudi Arabia; some companies that advertise on that site are in Riyadh. One cannot flatter al-Qaeda from within Saudi Arabia, unless one has protection from some part of the regime in Riyadh or from the theocracy in western KSA (Jeddah/Makka/Medina). In the case of Islam Memo, there is a trace of affiliation with this Saudi government branch in Dammam:
http://www.edueast.gov.sa
http://www.schooleast.net
http://www.edueast.gov.sa/vb/

[Vancouver]

I am going to withold posting it at the moment because it is either disinformation or more than likely a heads up to strategy that is taking place around the Baghdad area right now.
If it's about the big buildup of security in Baghdad, that was presumably preparation for W's visit.

[Vancouver]

jusonenews.com is now running. Looks like much the same old bullshit but:
-- most of it is now unavailable except to paying subscribers
-- she lists as columnists at least two new names who actually exist: Cindy Sheehan and Juan Cole.
-- she is trying to sell copies of certain "news" in Arabic.

[Vancouver]

I looked again at
www.freearabvoice.org
and it was not inactive, as I had mistakenly thought. The writer Muhammad Abu Nasr at freearabvoice is still industriously translating Islam Memo a.k.a. Mafkarat al-Islam on a daily basis. He also sometimes quotes bad news from English-language online newspapers. I can't see on whose behalf he would be doing this. It seems to be just his own hobby.
It may be meaningful that he goes out of his way to say that the mainstream media are biased all to hell; many isolated paranoids are bedeviled by that notion. Maybe he fancies himself some sort of savant to whom the whole world should be listening. His own ideology, to the extent that I've seen him expose it, seems to be communist or totalitarian. He is not religious. (Neither is Giesbrecht, although she puts on a clumsy act of appearing so.)
But back to Giesbrecht, she still looks like what she has resembled all along: a self-employed peddler. She hates as many regimes and authorities as she can get away with, and she loves every Muslim murderer she hears anything about. She has no personal ties within Islam. No Muslim I know in this area (Giesbrecht is nearby) has ever heard of her. She never endorses any specific cleric, or claims the endorsement of any cleric, as all Muslim terrorists do. She has enemies galore in cyberspace but no friends, except a few vandals like Albert Jabara here in Canada. This would be the practice of someone who wants to peddle hate to as many types as possible -- someone who worships only Mammon, so to speak. Her web stuff is based in Canada, not in some Muslim police state or lawless place; consequently she does little overt Jew-bashing, because that could get her shut down. Similarly she hs not yet endorsed the Muslim terrorist plotters who were picked up around Toronto. Last, she still does some work in website design for arbitrary innocent "kufr" companies, who are very probably quite unaware of her other line of work.

[Vancouver]

It looks as if Bev Giesbrecht is being reigned in by the Law. Before she deletes it, here a recent statement under one of her aliases Khadija Abdul Qahaar:

The Mujahideen Shura Council issued a statement over the weekend accompanied by a video of the execution of the Russian Diplomats who were capture in Iraq.

[quote from MSC snipped]

It is time to address the fact that this graphic material has no intrinsic value other than to horrify the Muslims and non-Muslims. In the past we have made the occasional footage of this nature available on JUSClub to members who signed a disclaimer, strictly in the interests of not “censoring” content but as these acts proliferate, let it be known that we will no longer publish this material in any form on JUSone News.

No one knows better than the Muslims the horrific acts that are carried out against us every day. That said, the answer to our problems does not lie in distributing material of this nature – in fact it works against us. Two wrongs never make a right and with every beheading tape, more Muslims cringe and George Bush smiles and the US Congress give him more money for his genocide of Muslims! The US are masters of marketing, which is why we see so few soldiers that fall on the battle field. We do not see the abuse that is perpetrated at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib or the many secret jails the US tortures Muslims unless it's leaked for some political gain. Why? If the American people and voices of reason were served up a daily dose of this, they would stop this war in a heartbeat. Make no mistake; it is the aggressors who will end the war once they have no backing from their populations and nation states.

War is dirty business. Bombs shatter flesh for miles and mortars send arms and legs flying. This is why the US goes to such great lengths to prevent even coffins from being shown in the press. They know this is critical in their continuing efforts to pitch the “righteousness” of their battle. Terms like “precision strikes” leave the impression that only those that are targets are struck when in fact civilian casualties are always part of the mix. On the other hand, we have the Mujahideen Shura Council disseminating this type of information, too graphic to be viewed to “heal the breasts of the believers” when in fact this action has the Muslims running for cover! We run casualties at JUS because if we don’t, we aren’t reporting war however this does not hold true for propaganda.

Over the past five years that I have published JUS I have tried to find the real reason behind why groups like the MSC used this ineffective tactic. I have asked laymen and scholars, Mujahideen and clerics why this method of killing is employed and I have received equally diversified answers. Some claim that this is the least painful and most humane way to “execute the enemy". That may well be true but the act of videotaping it and disseminating the footage is an act beyond that. Moreover some say that it is “Sunnah” and the method employed the by the Prophet (pbuh) 1400 centuries ago during the early battles in Islam and therefore should be used just as it was then. Still others say it is intended to spread horror among the enemy as a deterrent. Most simply dismiss the question entirely asked by a “revert” on the basis that those of us who come to Islam from other religions they consider lacking in "knowledge". While that could be said in my early days in Islam, that is no longer the case today. I have dealt with this war on a daily basis for almost five years, traveled throughout the Middle East, spent two years studying at the Harvard of the Muslim world, Al-Azhar, while reporting on the Muslim side of the war for half a decade. I can tell you how an enemy is killed on the battlefield are matters decided based on the knowledge level and intention of those carrying out the acts for the most part. While there are varying views on Shariah law (yes there are versions), all are based on protection of human rights and the act of rejoicing and disseminating graphic visuals is not only haram but public relations suicide.

What is curious in the case of MSC is that the actual Shariah ruling is never disclosed only that the sentence of Allah has been handed down. Where are the safeguards? On what principle are the captives executed under? Most Muslims know that Islamic law is based on hadiths, or sayings of the Prophet (pbuh), and the books of figh written decades after his death. Most pick and choose hadiths based on a chain of narration and many of these hadiths contradict the Quran. The Shia and the Sunnis disagree on which are authentic hadith and hadith in general have taken precedent over the Quran itself. During my entire time in Egypt, other than at Al-Azhar, not one Muslim in a country that boast 93% Sunni Muslims every quoted me Quran – only hadiths. Why is that? Many, many Arabs do not know the Quran and it is the Quran that lays out the principles of justice, not the Sunnah. In fact it was not Arabs who were studying at Al-Azhar - it was Malaysians and Indonesians! While we can gain knowledge of the times of the Prophet though Hadith, these are not to taken as equal to, let alone over, the principles of the Quran. Make no mistake; disseminating beheading tapes is not sanctioned by Allah in the Quran I know and read!

Many things have been purposely not described in detail in Quran in order to make it a book of all time. It is a book of principles that can be adapted to any race, and circumstance and time frame. The Arabs, looking for more details rather than placing emphasis of their ability to understand the heart of Islam and apply its principles, turn to Hadith even when they contradict the Quran. The Quran is very clear about the sanctity and value of human life. If killing must be done, do it but do not glorify it. Glorify Allah alone!

While the act of beheading is an issue for scholars, the disseminating of this graphic and shocking material is a matter of public relations. At a time when Muslims in every country of the world are being viewed as terrorists, the media battle is gravely important. It does not take a genius to figure out that displaying and rejoicing in killing does not “heal the breasts of the believers” but makes us cringe. This does not help the Muslims or the Mujahideen who are fighting a legitimate resistance. It helps only the enemies of Islam who have plenty of examples of why the “barbaric” Muslims should be scourged from the earth.

To “rejoice” in killing be it the US soldiers in their acts in Abu Ghraib or the Mujahideen Shura Council in their acts against the unbelievers they capture are equal atrocities and have no place in Islam. There is no purpose to the fight if we carry on at the same barbaric way as those who claim moral high ground over us. Do we have a solution for mankind or not? As the average guy on the street would be hard pressed to believe that Islam is the most just way of life there is.

The acts of Abu Ghraib, pre-emptive strikes, killing of women and children and all such acts are outlawed in Islam, as is the “rejoicing” in the dismemberment of those prisoners in our protection. If killing must be done, let it be done but lets us never rejoice in it. There is no difference between the “trophy” pictures of Al-Zarqawi the Americans so despicably displayed and this latest beheading tape. As long as these acts are promoted for our “healing”, we can claim nothing superior to the unbelievers.

As for the distribution of this kind of video content, anyone who has taken Marketing 101 knows better. At a time when we seen support from the Ummah for the Mujahideen at an all time low, mainly due to these same type of acts carried out by Al-Zarqawi, the leaders of the Jihad are obviosuly out of touch with how these acts play out among the masses. While I had hoped we had seen the end of this with the demise of Al-Zarqawi, the Mujahideen Shura Council has made clear that this is an embraced tactic that will continue to horrify Muslims and non-Muslims alike as they operate with their bubble. In war the enemy must be eliminated of this there is no doubt but to rejoice in its execution is outside the realm of humanity and causes us to equally fear those who are supposed to be defending us as much as we do those perpetrating acts against us.

Healing the breasts of the believers? I think not!

[Casey]

The latest from Jihad Unspun.

Posted October 22, 2008


An Urgent Request From Khadija Abdul Qahaar
Oct 22, 2008
By Khadija Abdul Qahaar | Jihad Unspun

Assalamualeikum Wa Rahmatulahi Wa Barakatu

In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

Dear Brother And Sisters,

May this reach you in the best of health and strongest of Imaan. Ameen.

I apologize for writing this letter of request particularly to you those of you who has been such a great contributor to our site but unfortunately I must. As you know, the JUS team is in Pakistan making a documentary film and shoring up direct contacts for our news report which have become very weak in recent years due to third hand reporting and a variety of other challenges.

While we have made tremendous progress, Pakistan is now erupting into a full scale war zone. We have been in some very sensitive areas and even Islamabad is now locked down. As foreigners we must leave the country however we do not have the funds to get out. Our visas are expiring and they will not be renewed as the Canadian and British embassies are demanding all foreign national to leave due to the security situation.

Allah knows that I really dislike having to ask but please know how hard we work for Allah. We have managed to get very good material out of the country to our production group but our physical safety is now paramount. I make this personal and urgent appeal to you to send whatever ontribution you can to assist us to return to Canada and Britain (I am Canadian, our other member with me is from Britain and we also have some local Pakistanis who can not leave the country I am afraid). As a woman, I have already had a few close calls in the tribal areas as kidnappers and thieves are running loose even in Peshawar but alhamdulilah Allah has helped us.

This matter is urgent and inshaAllah I can count on our good supporters to help. Again I must apologize for having to make this request but at this time I have no other alternatives. With no family, it is my brothers and sisters that I must turn to for help. Please

This war is coming to each and every Muslim and the Ummah must act as one hand. I urgently ask that you assist us as a means of honouring the obligation that currently exists for every Muslim to protect our blessed deen. We serve a great and Mighty God, the one and only Allah who is capable of raising up His true servants. Please answer our call for His sake.
May Allah reward you for assisting us to safety in this important work. Ameen.

For Paypal contributions and credit card processing, please go to

http://www.jihadunspun.com/articles/20030423-home.elements/jus-partner2.php

For contributions through Western Union, please contact khadija@jusonenews.com for details.

Brothers and Sisters, we desperately need your help! Please answer this urgent call.

Khadija Abdul Qahaar
Publisher, JUS

[Casey]

and in yesterdays news...


Abducted B.C. journalist was working for Al Jazeera


Freelancer from West Vancouver had made 'personal and urgent' appeal on her website for financial help to get out of Pakistan

MARK HUME
November 14, 2008

VANCOUVER -- Beverly Giesbrecht, a West Vancouver woman who converted to Islam in 2002 and adopted the name Khadija Abdul Qahaar, was on a freelance assignment for the Al Jazeera network when she was abducted in northern Pakistan this week.

Ms. Giesbrecht, a former magazine publisher in British Columbia who runs a website that is critical of the U.S.-led war on terror and the mainstream media's coverage of it, had ventured into the highly dangerous North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, when she was taken at gunpoint out of a taxi, along with her translator.

A few weeks before she was seized on Tuesday, Ms. Giesbrecht, whom friends described as "tough and fearless," appealed through her website, Jihad Unspun (jihadunspun.com), for financial help to get out of the country.

"As you know, the JUS team is in Pakistan making a documentary film and shoring up direct contacts for our news report which have become very weak in recent years due to third-hand reporting and a variety of other challenges," she said in an open letter.

"Pakistan is now erupting into a full-scale war zone. We have been in some very sensitive areas and even Islamabad is now locked down. As foreigners we must leave the country however we do not have the funds to get out," she wrote.
"Allah knows that I really dislike having to ask but please know how hard we work for Allah. We have managed to get very good material out of the country to our production group but our physical safety is now paramount. I make this personal and urgent appeal to you to send whatever [c]ontribution you can to assist us to return to Canada and Britain (I am Canadian, our other member with me is from Britain and we also have some local Pakistanis who cannot leave the country I am afraid).

"As a woman, I have already had a few close calls in the tribal areas as kidnappers and thieves are running loose even in Peshawar."

Ms. Giesbrecht, 52, left Vancouver on April 7 and flew to London, going on to Lahore, Pakistan, on Aug. 4.

Mamoona Malik, a spokesperson for the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Ottawa, said Ms. Giesbrecht's visa application was supported by two letters from Al Jazeera, verifying she was doing freelance work.

One of those letters was signed by Phil Rees, a former British Broadcasting Corp. foreign correspondent who runs his own documentary film company and who identified himself as news director, London, for Al Jazeera. The second letter was signed by Scott Ferguson, programming director for Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera officials did not respond to calls yesterday.

"The letters say that she'll be working with Mr. Phil Rees and she will be reporting on the new government and the wider political situation, including the war on terrorism ... in connection with a documentary ... Democracy in Pakistan: The High Price of Freedom," Ms. Malik said.

The first report of the abduction appeared Tuesday in The News International, an English-language Pakistani newspaper. That story was quickly picked up by other news agencies and began circulating on the Internet.

Ms. Malik said that as of yesterday morning, the Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa had not heard from the Department of Foreign Affairs about the case.

Lisa Monette, spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs, has confirmed a Canadian has been abducted and said officials are in discussions with Pakistani authorities, but has refused further comment.

On her website, Ms. Giesbrecht explained that she converted to Islam in 2002 after beginning to research the reasons behind the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I became obsessed with finding out what was really going on," she said.

She said she launched the website to provide an alternative to mainstream news coverage of events.

"We do not promote 'terrorism,' we publish both sides of the news from primarily third-party sources and we operate within the law," she stated.

Glen Cooper, a friend for 20 years, said Ms. Giesbrecht has been attacked for the pro-Islamic slant on her website, but she is not a propagandist. "Bev is a reporter," he said.

Peter Ladner, who is running for mayor in Vancouver, said he met Ms. Giesbrecht in 1988, when she worked for him as sales manager for the monthly magazine Vancouver Business Report, a publication she later bought.

"I'm extremely shocked," he said of her abduction. He described her as a "very tough woman," but added he is deeply worried about her safety.

"It doesn't look good," he said.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081114.BCBEV14/TPStory/National

[Vancouver]

Two-to-one says this abduction is fake, like everything else about Bev Giesbrecht.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCrr1ZdSb64
-- Bev Giesbrecht in Vancouver, complaining about money and painting herself as broke because of her heroism.

[Vancouver]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081115.wabduct1115/BNStory/International/home

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=60047

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\16\story_16-11-2008_pg7_8
reads:
Taliban claim abducting Canadian woman

By Manzoor Ali Shah

PESHAWAR: A group led by Taliban commander Qari Amin Shah has claimed responsibility for the abduction of Canadian national Khadija Qahaar, Daily Times learnt on Friday.

Khadija was abducted on Tuesday from Jani Khel area in the Bannu frontier region along with her three local companions.

Government sources told Daily Times that Shah was learnt to have demanded Rs 10 million [about US$125,000] as ransom.

They said that a jirga of around 40-50 people, including Shah, was in progress in Zindi Akbar Khan village in the limits of Hoveed police station, when two men riding a motorcycle arrived.

They informed the commander about the Canadian women on which Qari Amin, along with 14 other companions, left the jirga to abduct her.

They said Khadija had left for Bannu in a taxi along with her three companions on November 12. The Taliban moved them to an undisclosed location and the taxi driver was allowed to leave.

[Casey]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081115.wabduct1115/BNStory/International/home


B.C. journalist kidnapped by two tribes in Pakistan, paper reports


Globe and Mail Update

E-mail Mark Hume | Read Bio | Latest Columns
November 15, 2008 at 7:44 PM EST

VANCOUVER — A Canadian journalist kidnapped in Pakistan last week was taken by tribes involved in criminal activity, according to a news report from Peshawar.

And negotiations are under way for the release of Beverly Giesbrecht and two assistants kidnapped with her, The News, a Pakistani newspaper, reported Saturday.

Ms. Giesbrecht, a West Vancouver woman who also goes by the Muslim name Khadija Abdul Qahaar was seized at gunpoint along with her local translator and a personal assistant last week while travelling in a dangerous tribal region in Pakistan, the North West Frontier Province, where government troops have been clashing with the Taliban.

Since the kidnapping there has been little information on what might have happened to her or the motive behind the abduction.


Beverly Giesbrecht (CTV)

Related Articles
Recent

Abducted B.C. journalist was working for Al Jazeera
Vancouver journalist abducted in Pakistan
But The News reports that government officials in the Frontier Region of Bannu have identified the tribes responsible for the kidnapping and have opened negotiations.

“Sources said the political authorities of FR Bannu had found some clues to the kidnappers and were now negotiating with them to safely recover the kidnapped journalist. It is believed the kidnappers belong to Takhtikhel and Janikhel Wazir tribes and [are] involved in criminal activities,” states the report.

Ms. Giesbrecht, who converted to Islam in 2002 and who runs a pro-Islamic website, Jihad Unspun, was on a freelance assignment for Al Jazeera when she was kidnapped.

Also on the weekend the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in Ottawa, corrected information released earlier that said Ms. Giesbrecht was travelling on an expired visa at the time of her kidnapping.

“This is to make a correction in the information provided earlier about the missing Canadian journalist,” Mamoona Amjed Malik stated in an e-mail.

“My office in Islamabad today informed me that she did contact the External Publicity Wing of Ministry of Information in Pakistan for visa extension and got 30 days visa extension. Her request to visit NWFP [North West Frontier Province] and Balochistan was approved by Ministry of Interior in August. Since then EP Wing was not aware of her movements,” stated Ms. Malik, Press Counselor for the Pakistan High Commission.

Ms. Malik said in an earlier interview that getting information out of the remote region was difficult because of communications limitations.

Ms. Giesbrecht, 52, is a former magazine publisher and past owner of the monthly Vancouver Business Report.

Although she adopted a Muslim name after converting to Islam, she still uses her Christian name in business listings.

On her website Ms. Giesbrecht said converting to Islam cost her a lot of friendships and changed her life in other ways.

“Gone is my mountain paradise,” she said, referring to the home she had in West Vancouver, “....gone are the dinner parties, the topys and the frills.”

Ms. Giesbrecht said she “became obsessed” with making he website a success and that she went to Pakistan in part to make direct contacts who could feed her reports from the front lines.

She was near those front lines, in a largely lawless region on the Afghanistan border, when she was kidnapped.

[Casey]

thenews

Canadian journalist abducted in Pakistan
Updated at: 0800 PST, Friday, November 14, 2008
OTTAWA: A Canadian journalist was abducted this week in Pakistan's northern tribal region while gathering materials for a documentary, officials said Thursday, days after another was released in Afghanistan.

Beverly Giesbrecht, 52, also known as Khadija Abdul Qahaar, was seized at gunpoint on Tuesday while traveling in the Bannu district of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan.

The English-language Pakistan daily first reported her abduction on Wednesday and the news was picked up by Canadian media the following day.

Lisa Monette, a spokeswoman for Canada's Foreign Affairs department told media, "The government of Canada is aware of the kidnapping of a Canadian citizen in Pakistan."

"Canadian officials are engaged with Pakistani authorities in seeking her safe and early release," she said.

Daily said: "The Canadian female journalist, Khadija Abdul Qahaar, along with her translator and guide, was on her way to Miramshah in North Waziristan by a taxi when some unidentified armed men kidnapped her."

"District police were combing the area to locate and recover the Canadian journalist and her colleagues," the daily went on to say.

[Casey]

Taliban demand $375,000 to free captive Canadian
Posted by Admin on 2009/3/13 12:43:18 (4 reads) News by the same author

REHMAT MEHSUD AND MARK HUME

From Friday's Globe and Mail

BANNU, PAKISTAN and VANCOUVER — Taliban insurgents active in Pakistan's lawless tribal region have offered to free a Canadian woman held since November in return for a $375,000 (U.S.) ransom.

The demand came in an interview near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border with Qari, a man who preferred to identify himself only by his first name.

Qari says he's a close aide of Gul Bahadur, the Taliban head in the volatile North Waziristan region who is alleged to be responsible for the kidnapping of Beverly Giesbrecht, a West Vancouver woman who was in the area working as a freelance journalist.

Ms. Giesbrecht, 52, also goes by the name, Khadija Abdul Qahaar, after converting to Islam in 2002. She is the publisher of a pro-Islamic website, Jihad Unspun.

Officials at the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in Ottawa, said they knew nothing of the proposed deal.

Emma Welford, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Canada, said she has “no new information,” but added that Canadian officials have been working with Pakistan to get Ms. Giesbrecht's safe release.

“We are pursuing all appropriate channels,” she said. “We are working to secure the best possible outcome.”

Ms. Giesbrecht was seized at gunpoint along with two local assistants while travelling in the Bannu district, a gateway to the North Waziristan tribal belt, which borders Afghanistan.

Earlier reports had the Taliban offering her release in return for a large cash payment and a prisoner exchange.

But Qari said money alone could now secure her release.

“Once negotiators approach the Taliban … then definitely they will work out the timing and conditions for her release,” he said.

Qari said the demand for the release of Taliban prisoners detained elsewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan was dropped in order to speed up a transaction.

It is believed the abducted Canadian woman is being kept somewhere on the border region of North Waziristan.

“She is safe and sound, for she is very precious for us. She has the freedom to interact with our female folk, whom she has got used to. Inshallah [God willing], she will not be harmed and we are confident that our demand will be accepted by the concerned government,” Qari said.

“She is provided with the best available facilities including food, medical care,” he said, although he acknowledged he had not seen her himself.

“She seems to be very encouraged with the reports that Taliban will spare her life in exchange for ransom,” he said.

The Canadian hostage is a sensitive issue in the area, with most of locals refusing to speak on the matter.

People in the area have been decapitated for allegedly being “spies for U.S forces.”

A local man, with a thick black beard and turban, said people have been told not to discuss “her abduction issue or her whereabouts.”

Weary tribesmen in the region are feeling greater insecurity because of a growing number of kidnappings and ongoing attacks by U.S. drones on suspected Taliban strongholds.

“If the tribesmen offer Taliban any food or even shake hands with them then the Pakistani security forces label them as sympathizers … But on the other hand when we provide [Pakistan] security forces … with drinking water, then the Taliban consider us as their foes,” said a Waziri tribesman, requesting not to be named.

There have been recent reports that a spate of kidnappings of Pakistani and foreign officials in the area have been triggered by the Taliban's need for money.

Muhammad Haroon, a local tribesman, said the Taliban are facing serious financial constraints at a time when their rivals are also under the grip of global financial crunch.

Some circles within the hard-line militia say Taliban leader Mullah Omar has issued directives to Pakistan-based Taliban heads to stop internal conflicts and concentrate on ejecting foreign forces from Afghanistan