Now that the election is over, Canadian media starts reporting kidnappings in real time?

Canadian journalist kidnapped in Pakistan: Report
Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008

VANCOUVER - Government officials in northwest Pakistan are trying to negotiate the release of a Canadian journalist, who was kidnapped with three local guides Tuesday, a Pakistani newspaper says.

The Daily Times, an English-language newspaper in Lahore, said Khadija Abdul Qahaar, the owner and publisher of jihadunspun.com, was reported missing.

The Lahore newspaper said officials were speaking with elders of the Janikhel tribe about Qahaar's release.

The paper said she was doing freelance work in the area, but was not registered with National Union of Canadian Journalists.

Qahaar, formerly known as Beverly Giesbrecht, converted to Islam after the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

In an "urgent request" posted on the Jihad Unspun website Oct. 22 under her byline, Qahaar asked for help in getting out of Pakistan, which she described as "erupting into a full-scale war zone." She said that as foreigners, she and her team had to leave the country, but don't have funds to get out.

"As a woman, I have already had a few close calls in the tribal areas as kidnappers and thieves are running loose even in Peshawar," she wrote.

Prior to launching the website aimed at inspiring "others to Islam and to take a stand against this shameful war on 'terrorism,'" Qahaar was a self-described publishing entrepreneur and Web developer.


© Vancouver Sun 2008