Jihad Unspun publisher Khadija Abdul Qaharr has reportedly been kidnapped in Pakistan.
Jihad Unspun is a pro-al Qaida, pro-Taliban website run by Qahaar, who was known as Beverly Giesbrecht before converting to Islam after the September 11 attacks.
I wrote about Jihad Unspun as a prime venue for disinformation several years ago.
Qahaar traveled to Pakistan in August, entering Mohmand province in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in order to make a film on the Pakistani Taliban. She describes the difficulties of her trip and a near escape from kidnapping in an August 26 dispatch, “Qahaar: Live from Mohmand Agency.” She said that four different translators she had hired for the trip to the tribal areas quit, mostly out of fear.
On October 22, she published an “Urgent Request” for funds to leave the country.
Last week, Pakistani newspapers reported she had been kidnapped on November 11, along with a translator and personal assistant.
On Friday, Canadian foreign affairs spokesperson Lisa Monette confirmed that an unnamed Canadian citizen had been kidnapped in Pakistan, stating “Canadian officials are working with Pakistan for her early release.” She refused to comment further, saying disclosing more details could undermine efforts to free the woman and put her at greater risk.
Todd Leventhal has researched false stories for 15 years, including Soviet and Iraqi disinformation, false organ trafficking rumors, and September 11 conspiracy theories. Todd also worked as a journalist and radio broadcaster for the Voice of America for seven years, covering Soviet affairs in the 1980s and African issues in the 1990s.
He has a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, a Masters in Russian Area Studies from Georgetown University, and a Bachelors degree in finance from the University of Colorado.
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