CALGARY – In her first public appearance since being released from kidnappers three months ago, freelance reporter Amanda Lindhout received a hero’s welcome from Alberta’s Somali community on Sunday.
As soon as Lindhout entered Pineridge Community Association hall, the crowd of 75 people stood up to applaud the 28-year-old woman, formerly of Sylvan Lake, for trying to interview Somalis uprooted by violence and because of that desire, she found herself in immense trouble on Aug. 23, 2008.
Mudhir Mohamed, president of the Somali Society of Calgary, told Lindhout he was ashamed for what some of his countrymen did by kidnapping her for 15 months. He’d like to see the kidnappers brought to justice.
“She is a hero,” said Mohamed. “She took the initiative to do what most people like you or I fear.”
Lindhout, surrounded by her father Jon Lindhout, mother Lorinda Stewart and close friends, smiled effortlessly as men and women, some in traditional Somali garb, came up to thank her. A slideshow -- showing pictures of bloodshed in Somalia as well as lighter moments of Lindhout smiling with an African child – brought tears to Lindhout’s eyes. The slideshow ended with Mahadsanid, which translates into “thank you.”
Lindhout gave a five-minute speech on how her experience in Somalia has changed her forever.
When she flew over Somalia, she saw her first glimpse of its rare beauty – from its white sand beaches to its lush vegetation and turquoise blue waters.
But she knew there was a darker story to tell of the country where starvation and war are rampant -- and up to 40 per cent of the population was and remains in need of humanitarian aid. In August 2008, the reporter decided to investigate the conditions of Somalia’s internally displaced people. She and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan, 38, were kidnapped while on their way to interview Somalians languishing in a camp not far from Mogadishu.
Lindhout and Brennan were severely mistreated by their captors. After a foiled escape, they were separated and remained in dark rooms for about 10 months.
“It’s very important for me to say that I do not see the men who kidnapped me as a reflection of Somalia’s society as a whole,” she said, followed by applause.
One Somali woman risked her life to try and free Lindhout.
“She did not know me and yet she called me her sister,” said Lindhout. “While she was ultimately not able to save me, she did touch my life in a profound way that I will never forget.”
Several unnamed Somali citizens also worked behind the scenes to try and free Lindhout and Brennan, for which Lindhout is thankful.
“I hold a vision of peace for Somalia,” she said.
On behalf of all Somali women in Alberta, Lindhout was presented with a 21-karat gold necklace, with the words Amanda and “Halyey” which translated means “hero”. She was also give a painted portrait of herself, done by Edmonton artist Amin Amir, formerly of Somalia.
Manmeet Bhullar, MLA for Calgary-Montrose, praised Lindhout’s parents for raising a child who was courageous enough to look at the horrific injustices of the world.
“Your parents are rock stars,” he said.
Lindhout and Brennan were released on Nov. 25 in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu after their families had secured a hefty ransom and had hired a British security firm to get them safely out of the country.
Hussein Warsame, a Somali who is an associate professor with University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, hailed Lindhout for her bravery, but he hoped her kidnapping wouldn’t discourage other brave journalists from covering his country’s turmoil.
“The hundreds of thousands of persons in those displaced people’s camps are still there,” he said. “Their situation has not improved at all.”
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com