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Ex-hostage to give talk
A cameraman held hostage for almost two weeks by Gaza militants is to speak of his ordeal tomorrow (Jan 17) at the Civic Suite, Catford.
The audience will hear how members of the Jewish, Islamic and Christian faiths co-operated to secure his release.
Olaf Wiig was seized by gunmen on August 14, 2006, along with American news correspondent Steve Centanni.
They were released unharmed after nearly two weeks in captivity.
Mr Wiig, a New Zealander, was working with Mr Centanni in the region as a freelance cameraman with the American Fox News network when they were kidnapped at gunpoint.
Following their release, on August 27, 2006, Mr Wiig told how, on the day of their capture, they were stopped by four masked gunmen and driven away across Gaza City in a pick-up truck.
Mr Wiig said at the time that, although they were initially roughly treated, relations between the hostages and their captors steadily improved over the two weeks until their release.
Mr Wiig is to talk of his experience and will field questions from the audience.
The talk has been organised by the 3 Faiths Forum, which is working to build a better understanding between persons of the Jewish, Islamic and Christian faiths.
Mr Wiig's father, Reverend Roger Wiig, minister of West Wickham Methodist Church, Hawes Lane, West Wickham, will also speak about how members of all three faiths worked together in securing his son's release.
Rev Wiig said: "Our family remains grateful for the full co-operation we received from the Muslim and Jewish communities. Here the religious divide was overcome."
All are welcome to attend the event, which will begin at 8pm.
The 3 Faiths Forum is open to anyone interested in honest dialogue and in deepening understanding of the implications of faith for the 21st Century.
For further information about the forum, contact secretary Linda de Lange on 020 8858 6206, or by email on de_Lange@prontomail.com
3:49pm Wednesday 16th January 2008
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