Saturday, September 29 5:26 PM SGT

British journalist arrested in Afghanistan, could be tried for spying

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept 29 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia said Saturday it had arrested a British woman journalist for entering the country illegally and that she could be tried for spying.

The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press quoted a Taliban official as saying Sunday Express reporter Yvonne Ridley was being held in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad and her case had been handed over to the Taliban intelligence department.

"She will be dealt with under the country's law," the news agency quoted the official as saying.

A Taliban diplomatic source here told AFP that Ridley had disguised herself underneath a burqa -- a cone-shaped all-covering garment -- to enter the country, and could have been spying.

"When someone enters Afghanistan like this we become suspicious they are spies. This is being investigated," said the source, who declined to give his name.

The charge of spying in Taliban-held Afghanistan carries the death penalty.

"This is a very serious incident and the investigation could take some time," the source said.

But he asserted she would be well treated. "In Afghanistan our women have their full human rights, and their dignity is protected."

According to Taliban officials, Ridley was arrested on Friday together with two guides some 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the Pakistani border, near Jalalabad. She was not carrying a passport or a Taliban visa.

Ever since the crisis triggered by the September 11 attacks in the United States, the Taliban has barred nearly all foreign journalists from the areas of Afghanistan under its control, although many have entered the area occupied by opposition forces.

The fundamentalist regime has also stopped issuing visas to foreigners.

The Taliban has been threatened with US military strikes unless it hands over Osama bin Laden -- the Saudi-born militant blamed by the United States for the attacks in New York and Washington.

The British Foreign Office said Friday it was "urgently seeking clarification" of Ridley's arrest.

"If this report is confirmed, we urge those holding her to treat her well and to resolve this situation quickly," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

Answers

She is an idiot for being there. I hope it turns out not to be true, and if it is true, that they expel her to Pakistan immediately.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

I just now looked for a follow up piece on confirmation of this story, I only looked three places and didn't find any.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

I don't remember who she works for, but there is an American journalist, Ashley someone, who cut her hair and died it brown. I think she's already over there, Afghanistan or Pakistan. She's an idiot, too.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

Yep, it's confirmed, Mags. Saw it on the BBC site. Silly bitch. Heard on a TV news program the Taleban is going to charge her with spying.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

I said she was a silly bitch. It turns out she's a single mother. She's a STUPID bitch.

BBC 9 September, 2001, 22:13 GMT 23:13 UK British reporter 'suspected of spying'

Afghan radio said the journalist was suspected of spying

A British journalist detained in Afghanistan has been arrested on suspicion of spying, according to a state controlled radio station.

Reports monitored by the BBC claim Taleban officials are still investigating the case of Sunday Express reporter Yvonne Ridley.

The Taleban-controlled Radio Voice of Shari'ah, in Kabul, told its listeners Ms Ridley was detained by security forces with the help of local people near the eastern city of Jalalabad on Friday

Ms Ridley's parents and her eight-year-old daughter Daisy in County Durham are anxiously waiting for further details.

The radio report said Ms Ridley had told officials she entered Afghanistan illegally to prepare reports about living conditions inside the country and had left her legal documents in Islamabad in Pakistan.

It also claimed that during interrogation the 43-year-old journalist said she "regretted her action and described it as foolish".

The Foreign Office said it had no independent confirmation of the reports.

"We reiterate that we are deeply concerned for her welfare and ask those holding Yvonne to treat her well and resolve the situation quickly," said a spokesman.

"We are in contact with the Taleban over this case."

But Foreign Office Minister Ben Bradshaw had earlier said it was an extremely serious situation and the Taleban did not have a record of adhering to "international norms".

Last call

Daisy Ridley, who turns nine on Wednesday, made her own emotional appeal to the Taleban in her mother's newspaper on Sunday.

"I just want mummy to come home. I miss her very much and I want them to let her go. She's a very kind person and she wouldn't do anything wrong."

Daisy has been staying with her grandparents Joyce and Allan Ridley in County Durham.

Mrs Ridley, 74, said she was deeply concerned but had faith that the Home Office and Foreign Office were doing everything they could.

She said she had spoken to her daughter two days before she went missing.

"She was going somewhere to see the refugees because the plight of them was dreadful," she said.

"She seemed her usual self and I did not think there would be any harm done in it."

Ms Ridley has worked for The Sunday Times, the Observer and the Independent and covered stories in Cyprus, Damascus, Lockerbie and Northern Ireland.

Ms Ridley's father Allan Ridley, 77, broke down in tears as he spoke to reporters gathered outside his home.

"We don't know anything more than what is being reported," he said.

"She knows how much we love her and we just want her home."

The Afghan Islamic Press said Ms Ridley was arrested with two guides, was wearing traditional Afghan dress and was not carrying any travel documents.

'Brave reporter'

Colleagues and media agencies have rallied to urge for Ms Ridley's release and pay tribute to her work.

International journalists' organisation Reporters Without Borders has written to Afghan foreign minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil.

Rebekah Wade, News of the World editor and chair of Women in Journalism, said she had written to UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw urging him to do everything in his power to secure Ms Ridley's safe release.

Ms Wade said: "Yvonne Ridley is a brave reporter who is just doing her job and we feel sure that she will not have meant to offend the Taleban regime in any way.

A spokesperson for the Sunday Express said Ms Ridley was the paper's chief reporter and was "a highly experienced journalist who has worked in many countries around the world.

"Everyone at Northern and Shell and Express Newspapers is deeply concerned and anxious for her speedy and safe return," the spokesperson added.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

stupid bitch.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001