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Faizel Patel – 06/12/2020
A South African man who survived six years of captivity by Al Qaeda operatives says while it was a difficult decision reverting to Islam, he was amazed by the beauty and teachings of the religion which convinced him it was the change he needed to make in his life during his ordeal.
Stephen McGowan and the author of his biography Tudor Caradoc-Davies were speaking to Radio Islam on Monday.
McGowan was released three years ago.
His dream of motorcycling through Africa turned into a nightmare when he was captured in Mali.
His book Six Years with Al Qaeda: The Stephen McGowan Story, was recently launched by the Daily Maverick.
McGowan says Islam is a beautiful religion despite being held captive Al Qaeda operatives
“My motives were not hundred percent pure upfront. Obviously when you have a gun against your head and you are not quite sure if you are going to die or not die. I found great wisdom with the hikmah in Islam especially regarding people and not bad mouthing and actually supporting them. Looking after your neighbour, your parents being one of the most important teachings within Islam. So I was quite blown away as the depth of the religion, that it’s a lifestyle more than a religion, it’s the way you conduct yourself.”
Davies says there are unique aspects of McGowan’s story that surprised him.
“I was really surprised how Stephen and his fellow prisoners didn’t kind of unite as a team. They were very different personalities from different countries and it wasn’t like The Shawshank Redemption, they didn’t become buddies. The second thing was how Steve in an effort to come out of the desert, if he ever came out didn’t want to be a broken man. He actually engaged with Al Qaeeda, the Mujahideen just to try an understans where they came from, what their backgrounds were and what brought them there.”
McGowan says he is unsure if wants to adjust back to a normal life adding that “I don’t think we have it right in South Africa and we spend too much time focusing on the wrong things.”
Listen to the interview with Stephen McGown and Tudor Caradoc-Davies
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