The deadline set by the kidnappers of journalist Jill Carroll has passed. There is no word on her fate.

Carroll is a 28 year old free lancer for the Christian Science Monitor who was abducted January 7th by a group calling itself the Revenge Brigade.  Her translator was killed in the abduction.
In her own words - why she went to Iraq.

The kidnappers have demanded the release of female prisoners.

Little is known about these women, except that they are between 20 and 30 years old and face terrorism-related charges. Human rights activists believe many are detained to pressure wanted male relatives to turn themselves in.

It’s not the first time the fate of a Western hostage has been linked to demands for the release of Iraqi female prisoners held in connection with the insurgency. Some hostages were eventually released - even though women remained in custody.

It is unclear how many women have been jailed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 and how many were really involved in the insurgency.

More than 240 foreigners have been taken captive in Iraq and at least 39 killed since the 2003 invasion by US-led forces, it is believed thousands of Iraqi’s have been kidnapped for ransom since the war began.