Stephen McGown, who was longest held of the Timbuktu Three, reveals he converted to Islam during his six years in captivityA South African man who was held hostage by al-Qaida in Mali for almost six years said he converted to Islam to help cope with the ordeal. He was the longest-held of the “Timbuktu Three”, who were seized by Islamist extremists in Mali. He revealed that he feared for his life three times during his time incaptivity, but stopped after his conversion. He claimed he was “treated well” by his captors and said they often “prioritised” his needs ahead of their own. The third hostage in the group, Sjaak Rijke, a Dutchman, was freed by French commandoes in 2015.

Source: The Guardian August 10, 2017 16:11 UTC