Osthoff story turns seriously strange

It didn't garner the same attention in the USA, but the abduction in Iraq of archeologist Susanne Osthoff dominated the headlines in Europe and especially in her native Germany -- and got plenty of sympathetic coverage worldwide within the archeological community.

And now . . .

A German archaeologist kidnapped in Iraq last year was found on her release to have some of the ransom money paid to her abductors in her possession, according to investigators. . .

Susanne Osthoff, 43, was released after a month in captivity on Dec 18. While she took a shower in Germany's embassy in Baghdad, officers from the BND, its intelligence service, found "several thousand dollars" fastened with rubber bands in her clothes, according to one of the investigators. Their serial numbers matched those on notes paid to secure her release.

While the German government has refused to comment on whether it paid a ransom, it is widely speculated that the equivalent of £3 million was handed over to secure her freedom.

Yet it seems that there may be a perfectly innocent explanation for this, in that Ostroff was carrying a large amount of cash at the time of her abduction, which may have been returned to her upon her release -- using banknotes from the ransom. So why is Osthoff being raked over the coals by the same German papers who a few short weeks ago lovingly profiled her and the candlelight vigils held for her release?

Politicians and the public were yesterday asking new questions about her ordeal. Many have lost patience with Miss Osthoff, a convert to Islam, since she declared her intention to return to Iraq and failed to thank them for their efforts to free her.

Her image at home also suffered after her release when she appeared on the Arabic television channel al-Jazeera, dressed from head to toe in dark clothing, only her eyes visible, prompting speculation she had embraced fundamentalism.

UPDATE: More twists and turns to the story outlined here.

Posted by David on January 23, 2006 10:40 PM