The kidnappers of Jill Carroll, a foreign correspondent with the Christian Science Monitor in Iraq, threatened to kill her unless all female Iraqi prisoners are released within 72 hours. Al-Jazeera reported this today after airing a video shot by her abductors (screengrab above).
Carroll’s father then issued this statement:
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.
– Jim, Mary Beth, and Katie Carroll
Boing Boing reader Jeff, who — along with his wife Natasha — is a friend and former colleague of Ms. Carroll, said earlier today,
Aljazeera just aired — about 10 minutes ago — a tape showing Jill Carroll. The tape makes demands and shows Jill but did not provide any audio. Natasha has put up a brief post about this. She’s also been following things with several links around the blogosphere and a number of personal photos. Link, Link two. It’s hard to know whether or not to call this good news. It seems it would provide some direction. There are demands being made but at this point, it appears no one has specifically claimed responsibility. It’s still unknown if this is al-Qaeda. Work is ongoing to secure her release.
Here is a regularly updated page at the Christian Science Monitor, which includes a statement released today by the publication’s editors: Link. More news reports: AP, BBC, USA Today, Yahoo, CNN
Previously on Boing Boing:
Jill Carroll, US journo and pal of BB readers, kidnapped in Iraq
Search for Jill Carroll, journo abducted in Iraq, continues
(Thanks, Narrill, Jeff, Travis C, CZ, and many other readers who wrote in.)