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Canadian Journalist held by Taliban Phones Toronto's 'The Globe'

by Mary Richard | March 23, 2009 at 08:09 pm

458 views | 36 Recommendations | 6 comments

Toronto's Globe and Mail published an exclusive Monday night, on Beverly Giesbrecht, the Canadian being held held hostage by Taliban. They claim to have spoken to her briefly by satellite telephone today.

“Please tell me what the Canadian embassy and the Pakistani government are doing to get me out of here,” she said in the call, which seemed arranged and controlled by her captors.

Ms. Giesbrecht did not respond to questions, but repeatedly pleaded for help and said her health is deteriorating because of the conditions in which she is being held.

Her voice was extremely weak.

“This is Beverly Giesbrecht, in Taliban captivity,” she said to introduce herself. “I don't know where I am. Somewhere on the Pak-Afghan border. Please, please help me out from here. … Please, please accept their demands. I have very few days to be killed.” The line was cut abruptly, one minute and 25 seconds after the call began.

Please click here to read the full article in The Globe and Mail's exclusive, published tonight.

Officials with Foreign Affairs Canada have routinely declined comment on Ms. Giesbrecht's situation, except to say her release is being sought through appropriate channels.

Previous NP coverage: Talks for release of kidnapped Canadian journalist in final phase
Taliban Threaten to Behead Canadian Hostage in New Video

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Jarrett Martineau

at 20:18 on March 23rd, 2009

Good find. Thanks for posting this.

harringtola

at 20:45 on March 23rd, 2009

I do hope everything that can be done to free her is being done. Journalism is a dangerous job in these areas of the word and the fact that journalists continue to brave the threat is hard to understand.

René

at 02:31 on March 24th, 2009

journalist? Bev? the lady who converted to islam and put up a website supporting jihad, jihadunspun? she was going to make a documentary, but that doesn't make her a journalist.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:33 on March 24th, 2009

Rene tell us more in the way of a backgrounder? Are you saying she is responsible for her capture?

Rhonda J Mangus

at 17:00 on March 29th, 2009

Sorry I missed this, Blue Crush!

Epoh (not verified)

at 07:41 on April 9th, 2009

She put herself into this situation, knowingly. It should be standard practice not to negotiate with these terrorists. To pay a ransom for her would only encourage more of the same. Nobody forced her to go to Afghanistan or Pakistan but her own selfish motivations, no one should rescue her.

Flower2000 (not verified)

at 21:45 on April 26th, 2009

The suspected captor leader's name is Gul Bahadur. But actually he is not "Bahadur", surely he is a coward. I hope to abduct Gul Bahadur's wife and rape.