Freelance Reporter Jill Carroll Talks About Her Iraq Kidnapping

A reporter who was kidnapped and kept captive in Iraq for 82 days tells her experience. Jill Carroll had more direct touch with Iraqi militants than any other American who has survived to tell a story. Jill Carroll was a freelance reporter for The Christian Science Monitor in the United States. A gang calling themselves the Revenge Brigade abducted her on January 7 in Baghdad. Alan Enwiya, her Iraqi interpreter, was assassinated by her kidnappers.

"I was staring out the crack of the door, which was about to open. I saw Alan there, and I saw them murder him "She remembers. Carroll claims that one of her captors contacted her home seconds later to say he was taking her to meet his family. "'Oh, my mother, my sister, and my wife say they love you so much,' he added as he hung up the phone. They're overjoyed that you're coming.'"

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During her 82 days in captivity, Carroll believes the rebels transported her between at least six different residences. Every day, she said, she feared for her life. Carroll memorized sections as her captors recited the Koran to her for hours at a time in order to teach her the Koran. The kidnappers claimed they were motivated by terrorist commander Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the concept of global jihad months before he was murdered in Iraq.

She claims that members of the insurgency's family worked closely together, including a five-year-old child whose parents assisted in the guarding of Carroll. "She remarked, "A tiny kid, a little voice, I didn't even realize he was there."? He says, "I'm a Mujah head, I'm a Mujah head," which means, "I'm a Mujah head, I'm a Mujah head, I'm a Mujah head, I'm a Mujah head, I'm a holy warrior, aren't I? He is a five-year-old boy. I spent a lot of time with this youngster. He was really attractive."

Carroll revealed that she was stunned to learn that the pregnant wife of one of her kidnappers wanted to become a suicide bomber. "We were in the kitchen, her husband came in, that guy, you know, and he says 'Oh, you know, Um Ali, she wants to be a suicide bomber.' Um Ali's like, 'Oh yes, I do.' Obviously blushing because he was praising her, and she was really proud of it," said Carroll.

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The U.S. military has arrested four Iraqi men suspected of being involved in Carroll's kidnapping. But Carroll believes families of the men will continue fighting in the insurgency."That wife will raise her children and son to fight and murder. That small child will be out on the street the next day, waiting for a patrol to arrive before signaling someone to detonate an IED. [IED] is an acronym for "improvised explosive device." An entire family is a machine. So, what are your plans? Is it possible to apprehend all of them? Is it possible to eliminate all of them?"

Carroll was given new clothing and placed in a vehicle by the rebels on March 30. Until one of the kidnappers offered her money, she thought they were going to kill her."He began pulling money from his wallet and handing it to me, saying, 'This $100 bill is because we are sorry for your difficulties, and this one is for your computer, and this one is for your father, and tell him we're sorry, and this one is for your mother, and tell her we're sorry.'

Carroll was released, but she claims she still bears responsibility for the murder of her companion and translator, Alan Enwiya. (VOA/JC)

(This article is a rehash from Voice Of America)