Yvonne Ridley

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Yvonne Ridley is a British journalist and war correspondent who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. Born on April 23, 1958, in Stanley, County Durham, England, Ridley began her career as a local journalist at the Stanley News before moving to Newcastle upon Tyne.

Ridley's passion for left-wing, anti-imperialist causes predates her conversion to Islam. She joined the Labour Party as a teenager but resigned over the decision to invade Iraq in March 2003. Her experience during this time would later shape her views on foreign policy and international relations.

In September 2001, Ridley was working for the Sunday Express when she was captured by the Taliban while covering the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. She was held captive for 11 days before being released under "humanitarian reasons." During her imprisonment, Ridley met Christian missionary Heather Mercer and converted to Islam shortly after her release.

Ridley's conversion had a profound impact on her life and career. She has since become an outspoken advocate for women's rights and Islamic values. Her experiences as a war correspondent have also made her a vocal critic of Western media portrayals and foreign policy in the war on terror.

After her release, Ridley continued to work as a freelance journalist, covering stories from around the world. Currently, she works with Press TV, an English-language Iranian news channel. Ridley has been recognized for her work, including being called "something close to a celebrity in the Islamic world" by journalist Rachel Cooke.

Ridley is married and has one daughter, born in 1992, whom she met while living in Cyprus. The couple's first husband was Daoud Zaaroura, who was a colonel of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at the time they met.

Throughout her career, Ridley has been recognized for her work, including interviews with major news outlets such as BBC Inside Out and Al-Jazeera.net. Her experiences have also been documented in various online lectures and videos, showcasing her advocacy for women's rights and Islamic values.