Here, for the first time, Johan Gustafsson and his partner Stephen McGown tell about the conflicts

9/1/2019, 8:02:29 PM

In November 2011, the Swedish Johan Gustafsson was kidnapped in the city of Timbutku together with the South African Stephen McGown and the Dutchman Sjaak Rijke. In the desert of Mali, those captured by al-Qaeda sat - but instead of resorting to each other, conflicts arose in the group. - I'd rather have been sitting alone, says Johan Gustafsson in a new documentary.

Johan Gustafsson was released after almost six years in captivity. A month later, South African Stephen McGown was also released.

In the documentary "Prisoner at al-Qaeda", the two men talk about how the prisoners split and later ended up in quarrels when Johan Gustafsson decided to convert to Islam.

- I asked my two fellow prisoners if it was something I hadn't thought of. I wanted their views. After huge quarrels within the group, I said I wanted to convert.

Converted to Islam

Johan Gustafsson says in the documentary that he made the decision because he had nothing to lose. Afterwards he was separated from the other prisoners and allowed to move more freely in the camp.

- I learned the rituals and what to say in prayer. I didn't believe it for a moment and didn't see myself as a Muslim.

Stephen McGown says in an interview that his situation worsened after Johan Gustafsson converted to Islam, and after a month he also converted.

- I realized I would get sick if I couldn't move. So yes, I went into religion.

Afterwards, the two fellow prisoners stayed away from each other.

- I was kidnapped with two other people, so I thought we would become a team. But that did not happen.

The entire documentary Fang at A-Qaida can be seen on SVT Play.