WASHINGTON (ABP) — As everyone from Jesse Jackson to a radical Muslim cleric pleaded Dec. 7 for mercy, abductors holding a British Baptist and three Christian peace activists hostage in Iraq reportedly extended the deadline for their demands to be met.
An Iraqi militant group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness kidnapped London grandfather Norman Kember, 74, on Nov. 26, along with three other members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams working in Iraq. The militants announced Dec. 2 they would execute the four Dec. 8 if American and British officials did not meet their demand to release all Iraqi prisoners.
However, late in the afternoon of Dec. 7, the Arabic satellite news network Al-Jazeera reported that the kidnappers had extended their deadline to Dec. 10.
Dec. 10 marks International Human Rights Day — just one of the story's many ironies.
Friends and family of the hostages noted that they were in Iraq to oppose the very war and alleged treatment of detainees that their abductors do.
“My husband, Norman, doesn't believe in violence, and neither does his family,” said Pat Kember, in a Dec. 7 statement released from her London home. “We believe as he does that everyone should live in peace. This is an extremely worrying, stressful time for all of Norman's family. We are praying with people from all faiths for the safe release of Norman and his friends.”
Ken Sehested, who served as the longtime executive director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, told Associated Baptist Press that Kember was a “friend of 20 years” who is “a gentle-spoken, dry-witted and life-long British Baptist.” BPFNA is one of the Christian Peacemaker Teams' supporting organizations.
Christian Peacemaker's co-chair, Carol Rose, said Dec. 7 the group has long opposed alleged abuses of Iraqi detainees by U.S. and other allied authorities, as well as what it describes as the U.S. “occupation” of Iraq.
“It's not unusual in the world for people who are not the ones doing the evil to bear the brunt of the reactions of those who are hurt by that,” she said, adding that it shouldn't surprise Christians that suffering sometimes comes along with doing God's work.
She also said she hoped the situation would inspire thought and action among Christians in the United States and across the globe.
“Part of what we're hoping for is not only the swift and safe release of our friends and for the reuniting of those detained under such horrific circumstances all over the world and especially in Iraq, but also that this can be a moment when the church moves into determined and courageous action for following the Prince of Peace,” she said. “So, that would be a way to honor and to partner with the lives of our co-workers, as well as just give witness to the truth that we live out of.”
Religious leaders from vastly different ideological persuasions have called for the hostages' release. Jesse Jackson, the Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, appeared on Al-Jazeera and CNN early on Dec. 7 urging their captors to free the peace workers.
Later in the day, British news agencies reported that one of that nation's most high-profile Islamist radicals, Abu Qatada, also called for the hostages' release.
“I urge them to release the four prisoners in Iraq. This is a merciful act according to the principles of Islam,” the cleric said, according to an English translation of his Arabic statement published by the DeHavilland news service. Qatada has been imprisoned by British officials since 2002 on suspicions that he has ties to the Al Qaeda terrorist network.
The other hostages detained with Kember are Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32; and American Tom Fox, 54. The activists were abducted shortly after they left a Baghdad house, headed for a meeting with a Muslim group.
Unlike the vast majority of Westerners currently working in Iraq, CPT team members do not travel with weapons, bodyguards or armor for protection. They also, in the event of just such a kidnapping, agree to oppose any attempts to rescue them by violent means.
Christian Peacemaker officials released a statement Dec. 8 calling for Christians and others around the world to mark International Human Rights Day with prayer vigils for the hostages and for peace.
“Christian Peacemaker Teams calls for all people of conscience around the world to initiate non-violent public actions for peace and for prayer on December 10th in support of international human rights and in support of ending war and occupation,” the statement read. It asked vigil leaders to highlight the following phrases: “Love your enemies,” “End the occupation,” and “Free the captives.”
The group announced organized vigils in several nations and at least 15 states, including New York, California, North Carolina, Texas and Kentucky.