These are letters allegedly written by British sailor Faye Turney during her captivity in Iran, and released by the Iranian Embassy in London. Their authenticity has not yet been verified.
Dear Mum & Dad,
I am writing to you from Iran where I am being held. I will try to explain to you the best what has happened. We were out in the boats when we were arrested by Iranian forces as we had apparently gone into Iranian waters. I wish we hadn't because then I'd be home with you all right now. I am so sorry we did, because I know we wouldn't be here now if we hadn't. I want you all to know that I am well and safe. I am being well looked after. I am fed three meals a day and have a constant supply of fluids.
The people are friendly and hospitable, very compassionate and warm. I have written a letter to the Iranian people to apologize for us entering into their waters. Please don't worry about me, I am staying strong. Hopefully it won't be long until I am home to get ready for Molly's birthday party with a present from the Iranian people.
Look after everyone for me, especially Adam and Molly.
I love you all more than you will ever know.
All my love,
Faye
Representative of the House of Commons.
I am writing to inform you of my situation. I am a British Serviceperson currently being held in Iran.
I would like you to know of the treatment I have received whilst here.
The Iranian people are kind, considerate, warm, compassionate and very hospitable. They have brought me no harm, but have looked after me well. I have been fed, clothed and well cared for.
Unfortunately during the course of our mission we entered into Iranian waters. Even through our wrongdoing, they have still treated us well and humanely, which I am and always will be eternally grateful.
I ask the representatives of the House of Commons after the government had promised that this type of incident would not happen again why have they let this occur and why has the government not been questioned over this? Isn't it time for us to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them determine their own future?
Faye Turney
27/3/07
12 comments:
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say these are not Faye's real feelings, right?
Hopefully she'll be free soon. . .
Hmmm.... something doesn't stack up here does it?!
I hope her and her colleagues are home safe soon.
Michele sent me to say hi.
An American soldier captured in Somalia (See the book and movie Black Hawk Down) had to do the same thing - be filmed condemning the USA's presence in Somalia
It's sad to see prisoners being put in this position, and I hope she and her colleagues are home soom
I heard that the Iranians released coordinates to prove that the British had entered their waters, and when the British pointed out that the coordinates given were in Iraqi waters, the Iranians just changed them.
Not that I'm in favour of the war, but I agree that something doesn't stack up.
Here from Michele's.
Karen, you know I've always agreed with almost everything you write, but here I have to part company with you. I believe it is a mistake to give this any publicity at all (though you certainly have a right to).
It reminds me of Jill Carroll's letters sent out during the time that she was in captivity, in which she praised her captors and their cause, but once she was freed by a raid and realized that they couldn't hurt her anymore she renounced every word of those letters and exposed them as torturers who beat, raped and tried to indoctrinate her.
We don't even know for sure if this was written by Faye Turney, or if it was written by someone else and she had to sign it. And what is with the muslim head scarf? It is likely the first time in her life she's worn one, did she just choose to start wearing it, or did her captors force her to wear it to conform with their religion's misogynistic view of women?
Let's be honest here-- suppose that these kinds of things, supporting the American war, were published bearing the signatures of prisoners held at Gitmo. Now, you and I would be united in condemning it as a violation of the Geneva conventions, an exploitation of prisoners and very likely coerced. And we'd be right--and thankfully even the BucshStalag system hasn't stooped that low. So how can this be justified?
Best wishes Karen, and consider this a friendly box on the ear. There is a line I won't cross, and you have-- well, you have guts but I can't go there with you on this one.
I agree with the others that even if these types of letters are authentic, they are meaningless as they are being written while being detained as POWs. Regardless of what the Brits and us have done in Iraq, Iran's got to be accountable to the treatment of these prisoners, from who the legality of their capture does seem to be questionable. However, our treatment of Iraqi prisoners does make it harder for us to demand the moral high ground here.
Thx everyone who has left their opinions so far.
My point for posting this was just what my intro said...
'All this because the bushie idiot got us into this senseless war'
What a scary world we're living in. I feel sick every time I think about those poor people basicaly being held hostage. As you said, if Bush hadn't gotten us into this & the UK hadn't felt like they had to go along with his posturing & bad judgement those people (& the rest of the world) wouldn't be in this mess.
Here from Micheles
Here via Michele - I do hope she's home soon.
It certainly does not sound like Faye. It was a mistake for the Iranians to force her to wear a headscarf if they wanted her 'letter' to look authentic.
She is the same age as my eldest daughter.
I, too was in the Navy.
She is doing waht she should do to keep herself and her fellow shipmates safe.
I do NOT believe British Naval vessels would 'stray' into Iranian waters. This is not how the British navy does things. They are NOT provocative.(Unlike other navies we could mention).
Hope they are all home soon considering we are not 'at war' with Iran...so just like all the sailors who stray into Australian waters every year ( usually Indonesian and Japanese) we just pack 'em up and ship 'em home.
Hi, Michelle sent me.
Can we say coerced? It always sickens me when prisoners of war are used as propaganda puppets.
Bush is indeed a freak of nature, but the Iranians are no picnic either. They're the next major geopolitical threat, and something's got to happen to put the dark age dwellers who lead this nation back into their place.
Post a Comment