Quotes by Giuliana Sgrena

“These people dont want foreigners here, nobody should come to Iraq at this time. Not even journalists. Nobody.”

“It wasnt a checkpoint but a patrol which immediately opened fire after they trained their light on us.”

“Do you know in what conditions such video are made? Do you think I was free to say what I wanted? To be a hostage means one is not free to talk freely in a video. Yes, they gave me food, drink and medicine, but I was captive, without light, without nothing. But do you think I was free to say the kidnappers didnt treat me well?”

“It wasnt a checkpoint, but a patrol that shot as soon [as] they lit us up with a spotlight. We didnt know where the bullets were coming from. We had not met other checkpoints before. Our car was absolutely not traveling at high speed.”

“Our car was driving slowly ... the Americans fired without motive.”

“kept on talking and talking, you couldnt contain him, an avalanche of friendly phrases and jokes. I finally felt an almost physical consolation, warmth that I had forgotten for some time.”

“I was always trying to be combative, to stand up to them [her kidnappers], not to be submissive but to be strong.”

“I beg you, put an end to the occupation. I beg the Italian government and the Italian people to put pressure on the government to pull out.”