British journalist Yvonne Ridley once held by Taliban considers embracing Islam
2002-08-04 10:18:18


Taliban police arrested Ridley in September when she was trying to enter the tribal regions of Pakistan   more...via unusual paths in Jalalabad province's Door Rubaya district dressed in the all-enveloping abaya.

She was initially held in Jalalabad and later shifted to Kabul. Immediately after her release and arrival in Pakistan, when asked by a massive crowd of journalists about her treatment by the Taliban, she said they were like brothers.

On her release and return to England Yvonne Ridley Tolf the said that she had not seen such noble, brave and straight-forward men like the Taliban in all her life.

At a Human rights Conference held at the University of Leicester in England on the 12th May 2002 the right wing British Journalist Yvonne Ridley who was arrested and held by the Taliban made some startling statements concerning Islam and her treatment at the hands of the taliban."When I was released everyone expected me to relay horrific tales of brutality (but the) Taliban treated me with great respect" and with great deliberation she added "..very very well". She went on to say that whilst the taliban had its faults but they were on the whole 'likeable'. However this was not what the west wanted to hear, they could not be seen to be bombing a people who were 'likeable.
In exchange for her treatment at the hands of the Taliban she promised them she would read the Koran upon her return to the UK.

As a result of this she claimed that what she discovered about Islam was an eye opener , describing Islam as "a great unifier, a religion of social justice, it transcends race and national borders. Islam has inspired more Scholars, mystics and poets then soldiers" going on to say "since the crusades the west has held a stereotypical image of Islam, (that) women are subjugated is a nonsense. I admire the way it supports and promotes women." adding how people often mix up religion and cultures.

(http://www.indybay.org/news/2002/05/127306.php)

Her book "In the Hands of the Taliban" http://www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk/books/bats_disp_parse/54955  less