Conversion at Gunpoint

Fox News reporter Steve Centanni and cameraman Olaf Wiig were released this morning from captivity.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Militants freed two Fox News journalists on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, ending a nearly two week hostage drama in which one of the former captives said they were forced at gunpoint to make statements, including that they had converted to Islam.

Correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, of Washington, D.C., and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials. A tearful Centanni briefly embraced a Palestinian journalist in the lobby, then rushed upstairs with Wiig behind him.

The pair, who appeared to be in good health, then met with Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The men left Gaza through the Erez border, crossing into Israel several hours after their release.

This is wonderful news for both of these men and their families.

The most curious(at least to TFM) about this news is briefly mentioned above but is also reported here. Wiig's and Centanni's conversion to Islam.

Both of the men were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, Centanni said.

"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns, and we didn't know what the hell was going on."

Perfectly understandable Steve. Some how I don't think Allah or Mohammed believes in forced conversion. Do religious fanatics ever realize how they descecrate the religion they so fervently believe in?

Other bloggers also discussing this news- James Joyner at OTB, Bullwinkle, Michelle Malkin, Bright & Early, Kim at Wizbang, Captain's Quarters, Assorted Babble,