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Experience: I was held hostage for a year
As a conflict journalist, I was aware of the dangers – but nothing prepares you for the mental trauma
TL;DR
- The author, a conflict photojournalist, was kidnapped in Mogadishu in 2008 by armed men demanding $3 million for her release.
- She and a fellow journalist, Amanda, spent days in a small room with poor conditions, attempting to build rapport with their captors and converting to Islam.
- After five months, they attempted an escape by digging through a wall but were recaptured and subjected to harsher conditions, including shackles.
- The author endured nearly a year of captivity, experiencing significant psychological trauma before being rescued.
- Her family paid over half a million pounds to secure her release, leading to her return home with a newfound appreciation for family and life.