When Mary Quin ripped an AK-47 from the hands of a wounded kidnapper and made her escape in the Yemeni desert, she knew her life could never be the same. An exotic vacation had turned into a nightmare as she and 15 fellow tourists were used as human shields in a terrifying gun battle between the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army and Yemeni troops that left four hostages and three kidnappers dead. Lucky to be among those who survived, Quin returned to the United States but found herself preoccupied with trying to understand why the kidnapping occurred. Her absorbing journey through murky militant Islam and shadowy terrorist groups led her back to Yemen to try to piece together the puzzle - talking to the Yemeni Prime Minister, British embassy staff, the FBI and prisoners accused of terrorism. Her enquiries also took her to London to meet Abu Hamza al-Masri, the notorious disfigured cleric with ties to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army. Kidnapped in Yemen is the unforgettable first-hand account of this remarkable woman's unusual story of curiosity, survival and healing.

558 days of hell. Two souls united in body and spirit. One Almighty God. This is the story of Yolande and Pierre Korkie, who were kidnapped by Al Qaeda, as told by Yolande. Pierre never survived to tell the tale. In this touching story, Yolande relives the couple’s kidnapping and brutal severance from their children and life as they knew it. From the moment they were kidnapped until Yolande’s release and then through to Pierre’s tragic death during a failed rescue attempt, 558 DAYS recounts the Korkies’ horrific ordeal. This is the true story of a level of love that few couples will ever experience; of faith that grows stronger through adversity and of forgiveness that is more powerful than human boundaries. This is the story of 558 DAYS. Also included are 16 pages of full-color photos from Yolande’s personal photo album, excerpts from Pierre’s personal journals written while in captivity and a moving letter written by Yolande to Pierre after his death.

A study of the media coverage of the Yemenite Babies Affair - the story of the alleged kidnapping of hundreds of Yemenite babies from their families upon arrival to Israel in the early 1950s. Examining the role played by the media and by racism, this book is part of a growing trend to expand perspectives within Israeli scholarship.

"Yemen is the dark horse of the Middle East. Every so often it enters the headlines for one alarming reason or another -- links with al-Qaeda, kidnapped Westerners, explosive population growth -- then sinks into obscurity again. But, as Victoria Clark argues in this riveting book, we ignore Yemen at our peril. The poorest state in the Arab world, it is still dominated by its tribal makeup and has become a perfect breeding ground for insurgent and terrorist movements. Clark returns to the country where she was born to discover a perilously fragile state that deserves more of our understanding and attention. On a series of visits to Yemen between 2004 and 2009, she meets politicians, influential tribesmen, oil workers and jihadists as well as ordinary Yemenis. Untangling Yemen's history before examining the country's role in both al-Qaeda and the wider jihadist movement today, Clark presents a lively, clear, and up-to-date account of a little-known state whose chronic instability is increasingly engaging the general reader"--Publisher description.

A groundbreaking book about a woman’s kidnapping by Islamic extremists in Yemen. In Kidnapped in Yemen, Xerox executive Mary Quin details her experiences as an avid traveller and women’s rights advocate — a fulfilling life that led to a tour of Yemen, one of the most conservative Islamic countries in the world. But soon after her arrival, the exotic vacation quickly turned into a nightmare of ambush and captivity, violence and imminent death. She and 15 fellow tourists had been used as human shields in a terrifying gun battle between the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army and Yemeni troops. When the shooting stopped, four hostages and three kidnappers were dead. At the moment when Quin ripped an AK-47 from the hands of a wounded kidnapper and made her escape in the Yemeni desert, she knew her life could never be the same. Mary found herself preoccupied with trying to understand why the kidnapping occurred. Her fascinating personal journey through murky militant Islam and clandestine terrorist groups led her back to Yemen to try to piece together the puzzle. Kidnapped in Yemen is the unforgettable first-hand account of this remarkable woman’s unusual story of curiosity, survival and healing. From the Trade Paperback edition.

NOTE: Part of our Beyond The Veil Promotion running June/July 2004 At the moment when Mary Quin ripped an AK47 from the hands of a wounded kidnapper and made her escape in the Yemen desert, she knew her life could never be the same. She and 15 fellow tourists had been used as human shields in a terrifying gun battle between the Aden Abyan Islamic Army and Yemeni troops. When the shooting stopped four hostages and three kidnappers were dead. Quin's book begins with insights into her personal life as an avid traveller and women's rights advocate, establishing her rationale for visiting Yemen. Momentum builds quickly from exotic vacation to a gripping account of ambush and captivity, violence and imminent death. Lucky to be among those who survived the rescue unharmed, Quin returns to the United States. Amid a barrage of media attention she attempts to resume her corporate career but finds herself preoccupied with understanding why the kidnapping occurred. KIDNAPPED IN YEMEN tells the true story of the kidnapping and the impact it has had on Quin's life. Mary Quin was born in Palmerston North, graduated B. Sc (Hons) in Physics from the University of Canterbury. Holds a PhD in Materials Engineering from Northwestern University in Chicago, and in 1988 graduated as a Baker Scholar from Harvard's MBA programme. After an 18 year career in Corporate America, Mary is creating a new lifestyle which is built on her senior management experience, her New Zealand roots and her passions for international travel and women's rights. Through business and personal travel, she has visited over 60 countries, and has appeared on television's OPRAH WINFREY SHOW and in the New Zealand series, COMING HOME.