Widow of al-Qaeda Captive Pierre Korkie Killed in US Raid Forgives Captors, Says Husband's Death Was God's Will
The widow of a South African aid worker killed during a failed U.S. rescue raid in Yemen has spoken out and said that she forgives the troops who botched his release as well as his captors.
"Today, we choose to forgive," Yolande Korkie told the press on Sunday. "We choose to love. We choose to rejoice in the memories of Pierre and keep him alive in our hearts. Even though the pain is overwhelming us right now, we choose to believe that this too shall pass. Although we were separated in the flesh after 228 days when I was released, I remained with him in spirit until the end."
Yolande and Pierre were kidnapped from the city of Taiz in May 2013. A charity known as Gift of the Givers managed to arrange for Yolande to be released after paying a ransom. The same charity was working again to free Pierre and had secured a deal when Navy SEALs raided the compound in an effort to free Pierre and American Luke Somers.
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"Three days ago we told her (Yolande), 'Pierre will be home for Christmas,'" the charity said in an official statement. "We certainly did not mean it in the manner it has unfolded."
Earlier this morning, Pierre's remains were flown back to his home in Johannesburg, South Africa. She spoke with the press gathered at the Waterkloof Airforce Base.
"I visualized something different, him holding me in his arms, healing his soft voice. This morning, there were intense emotions of longing," Yolande said. "We will never have him physically again but in our hearts he will never die. They [the couple's children] never got to say goodbye. I had eight months with him in captivity. His death was God's will."
The American photographer Luke Somers was also killed in the raid sanctioned by President Barack Obama. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the group worked on the "compelling indication that Luke's life was in immediate danger."
"She does not hold anyone to blame," family spokesman Daan Nortier told Reuters on behalf of Yolande. "She has never even said a bad word about al-Qaeda. She is an extremely strong woman, guided by her faith. As a Christian, [she] applies the biblical principle of forgiving … even for his captors."
