“Austrian terror suspect says he helped release Iraq hostage”
The Jerusalem Post
March 6, 2008
article

Summary: An Austrian Muslim is going on trial for suspected involvement with al-Qaida. In February of 2007, a women and her son were abducted. A month later, a group called the “Arrows of Righteousness” claimed to have kidnapped the mother and her son. The mother was then released but the son remained missing. A man named Muhammad M. published a letter online and he was able to convince the abductors to change their deadline. In his online letter he was giving the abductors advice. he advised them that the video of the mother and son was not helping them. He is now on trial for his involvement with threatening videos about Austria and Germany. He also mentioned other terrorist targets in his writing. He is now on trial and pleads not guilty to all charges. Yet, he admitted that the front had ties to al-Qaida, but said its only goal was to find the truth.

A) This article represents the AP world theme “interaction between humans and their environment.” This theme goes along with this article because if Muhammad never started to interact with the abductors then he never would have gotten into the trouble that he did.
B) There is not much background on this article. Just that al-Qaida is an alliance of Islamic militant terrorist. Also, German and Austrian soldiers have been in Afghanistan. Germany has 3,000 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of the NATO.
C) This article was written by the associated press which means there is not one specific author. Yet, I believe that the author of this article is against Muhammad because they made him out to seem like he is completely guilty. I also think the author of this article is an outsider because they don’t know too many small details.
D) The author is not on Muhammad’s side and because of this we should be cautious about this article. The author may be making it out to seem like Muhammad was trying to help the abductors more than he was trying to help the mother and her son.
E) The point of view that is missing is Muhammad’s point of view. I think if we heard from Muhammad himself we would have a better understanding of the case and where he was coming from. I would also like to hear from the woman that was kidnapped to see if she thought Muhammad was helping or hurting.
F) I think the Muhammad was wrong and never should have given the abductors any advice at all. He should have told them to released them or just have left it alone. I think he shouldn't have gotten himself invovled with any "groups".

Julia Farrell