The Maligned, The Misunderstood, The Champion

Life offers many choices, and of free will and an occasional distorted sense of reality, we make our choices. And then we reconsider them or learn to live with them, determining that they were, after all, the best of all possible choices. Expressing in the deepest imaginable way, our natural inclinations to go with our hearts, not our heads.

Or perhaps on occasion, the reverse. In the case of Khadija Abdul Qahaar, her heartfelt kinship with Islam, and her recognition that those whom the West characterizes as violent jihadists are, in reality, freedom fighters. And since, as Beverly Giesbrecht, a devout Muslim, believes in freedom and those who fight for their freedom, however that is interpreted, support for the noble aim of jihadists was a natural.

She came to this realization, it would appear, post 9-11. For who would create such a monumental event other than those truly committed to freedom? Those who rail against the indignity of living under the heavy heel of American might and fury?
And, naturally, seeing the mighty brought low, their monumental fixtures, their symbols of superiority, world domination, and financial prowess placed into the prism of perspective, she found her metier.

The Islamists of the world's honourable travail against injustice would henceforth become hers. Hence the name change, the shuffle in religious adherence, the commitment to espousing their cause. And in the process gaining affirmation that her own life had a purpose beyond the obvious.

Perhaps she wasn't aware that the Taliban generally held women in contempt? Perhaps it was beyond her ken that she was travelling in an area that represents as a dire threat to her countrymen, four more of whom met their deaths this very day, bringing the total to a miserable 116 Canadian soldiers dead, battling a curse that she sought to defend?

On her way to making a film about the noble cause of the Islamists, to bring greater understanding of their purpose to the world at large. Augmenting and clarifying even further information available on her pro-Islamic Web magazine, Jihad Unspun.

From her home in Vancouver she travelled to Afghanistan to aid and assist the much-maligned, dreadfully misunderstood Taliban. She would champion them, assist their cause. Nuisance that the Simon Wiesenthal Center labelled it "a Canadian pro-terrorist website", but what do they know anyway, those kuffirs?

What a horrible misunderstanding, being held hostage in northern Pakistan. At her age of 52 having to suffer the indignity of being held for ransom. And the unreasonable fear that somehow manages to stifle her admiration for the righteous Taliban in the face of a new reality, a decapitating knife hung over her head.

This is most definitely not as she had envisioned her reception by those whom she has so generously championed. Another, grim reality, has impinged on her consciousness. Her Web site, Jihad Unspun, has posted encouragement:

"With almost no resources, this tiny but remarkable woman raised the bar for courageous reporting. She knew that her integrity would be attacked by both sides. Her primary goal is independent journalism that provides an alternate voice to Western media. She was aware of the risks involved in her latest journey, but had faith in those who were supposed to protect her."

Not my fault, she can sing into her future.