The Story of the Kidnapped Fox News Crew Takes a Strange Twist

There's a weird twist in the story of the two kidnapped Fox News reporters:

Two kidnapped Fox journalists appeared on a new videotape released by their captors on Sunday in the Gaza Strip, in which the reporters said they had converted to Islam, the Fox News Channel said.

Palestinian Interior Minister Saeed Seyam said efforts were under way to secure within hours the release of Fox correspondent Steve Centanni, a 60-year-old American, and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36.

Both journalists appeared to be in good health in the new video. They were seized on August 14.

They were shown separately sitting cross-legged, reading a statement which Fox said was an announcement that they had converted to Islam. At times in the video they were wearing long Muslim robes.

Wiig called on leaders of the West to stop "hiding behind the 'I don't negotiate with terrorists' myth". He then read some words in Arabic.

We know from past hostage situations that the captives are often made to say and act in ways that the kidnappers think will benefit them, and I would have to guess that this situation is no different. I would have a very hard time believing that any sort of actual conversion took place. And what a wonderful religion it must be that has to make converts at gunpoint.

Unfortunately for both men, assuming they have faked a conversion to Islam to appease their kidnappers, neither will ever be able to report from Islamic strongholds ever again since their lives will be worthless once they admit to faking an allegiance to Allah.

If they did actually convert, then the reporters will need many years of intenstive therapy to undo the damage done by their captors.

UPDATE: Centanni and Wiig released - conversion was done at gunpoint:

Two FOX News journalists were released by their kidnappers Sunday, nearly two weeks after they were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. ...
"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." ...

Later Sunday, the two journalists made a joint appearance with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. Haniyeh, Centanni and Wiig sat in a circle of chairs at the Beach Hotel. Wiig was also accompanied by his wife, Anita McNaught.

These statements make me wonder if there isn't a little "Stockholm syndrome" going on here:

(Centanni) "I want to thank everybody. I am happy to be here. I hope that this never scares a single journalist away from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind hearted," Centanni told reporters. "The world needs to know more about them. Don't be discouraged."

Wiig also said he was worried that the kidnapping would scare off reporters.

"My biggest concern really is that as a result of what happened to us foreign journalists will be discouraged from coming to tell the story and that would be a great tragedy for the people of Palestine," Wiig said. "You guys need us on the streets, and you need people to be aware of the story."

I'm glad they're safe, but I don't know how they'll ever be able to report from an Islamic area ever again.