Carroll Says Captors Treated Her Well

March 30, 2006 — -- Jill Carroll, the journalist held hostage in Iraq for three months, was dropped off at the offices of an Islamic political party in western Baghdad early this morning.

Before she was picked up and taken to safety by the U.S. military, she gave an interview to the TV station controlled by that political party.

Despite the wrenching images of Carroll pleading to the camera, and despite threats by her captors to kill her, she said today that she had been treated humanely. She has now had a medical checkup and is in good shape.

"They gave me clothing, plenty of food," Carroll said. "I was allowed to take showers, go to the bathroom when I wanted."

Carroll, who was working as a freelance reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, was kidnapped Jan. 7, and survived several deadlines calling for her execution.

"They never hit me, never threatened to hit me," she said.

It was, nonetheless, captivity.

"The room had a window, but the glass was. … You couldn't see. … There were curtains. … If I had to take a shower, I walk two feet you know next door, take a shower, go to the bathroom, come back. … That's all. I had no idea where I was or what was going on," Carroll said.

"I felt as though I was not free," she said. "It was difficult not knowing what was going to happen to me."

For the last three months, she had no idea of the massive campaign by her family, her employer, and many prominent Iraqis to secure her release. The chorus of Muslim leaders condemning this kidnapping was larger and louder than had been heard for some time.

She says she doesn't know who kidnapped her or why, or even where she was staying. All she knows is that this morning her captors told her they were setting her free. U.S. officials are working on reconnecting her with her family.

"I'm just happy to be free and want to be with my family," she said.