Briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams -Nov 30, 2005

The thinktank Ekklesia has published the following online briefing about the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) four members of whom have been kidnapped in Iraq.

Ekklesia works in partnership with CPT in the UK.

The briefing contains 14 articles tracing the work of CPT in Iraq over the last three years, including CPT's work to highlight abuse of Iraqi detainees, several months before the Abu Ghraib prison scandal was made public.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has worked for the rights of Iraqi prisoners who have been illegally detained and abused. They were the first people to publicly denounce the torture of Iraqi people at the hands of U.S. forces, long before the western media admitted what was happening at Abu Ghraib. They are some of the few internationals left in Iraq reporting accurately and consistently what is happening to the Iraqi people.

CPT have confirmed the identities of those who are being held as follows:

Tom Fox, age 54, is from Clearbrook, Virginia and is a dedicated father of two children. For the past two years, Mr. Fox has worked with CPT in partnership with Iraqi human rights organizations to promote peace. Mr. Fox has been faithful in the observance of Quaker practice for 22 years. While in Iraq, he sought a more complete understanding of Islamic cultural
richness. He is committed to telling the truth to U.S. citizens about the horrors of war and its effects on ordinary Iraqi civilians and families as a result of U.S. policies and practices.

Mr. Fox is an accomplished musician. He plays the bass clarinet and the recorder and he loves to cook. He has also worked as a professional grocer. Mr. Fox devotes much of his time to working with children. He has served as an adult leader of youth programs and worked at a Quaker camp for youth. He has facilitated young people's participation in opposing war and violence. Mr. Fox is described as a quiet and peaceful man, respectful of everyone, who believes that "there is that of God in every person" which is why work for peace is so important to him.

Norman Kember, age 74, is from London, England. He and his wife of 45 years have two married daughters and a 3-year old grandson. He has been a pacifist all his life beginning with his work in a hospital instead of National Service at age 18. Before his retirement he was a professor teaching medical students at St Bartholemew's Hospital in London. He is well-known as a peace activist, and has been involved in several peace groups. For the past 10 years he has volunteered with a local program providing free food to the homeless. He likes walking, birdwatching, and writing humorous songs and sketches. In his younger days he enjoyed mountaineering.

James Loney, 41, is a community worker from Toronto, Canada. He has been a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams since August 2000, and is currently the Program Coordinator for CPT Canada. On previous visits to Iraq, his work focused on taking testimonies from families of detainees for CPT's report on detainee abuse, and making recommendations for securing basic legal rights. James was leading the November 2005 delegation in Iraq when he went missing.

James is a peace activist, writer, trained mediator, and works actively with two Toronto community conflict resolution services. He has spent many years working to provide housing and support for homeless people.

In a personal statement from James to CPT, he writes: "I believe that our actions as a people of peace must be an expression of hope for everyone. My hope in practising non-violence is that I can be a conduit for the transformative power of God's love acting upon me as much as I hope it will act upon others around me."

Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 is a Canadian electrical engineer. He is studying for a masters degree in English literature in Auckland University in New Zealand to prepare for a teaching career. He enjoys art, is active in squash and worked part time as a local squash coach. His family describes him as peaceful and fun-loving and he is known to be passionate about the plight of the underprivileged around the globe. He works tirelessly in his spare time to educate and help others.

Christian Peacemaker Teams has been present in Iraq since October 2002, providing first-hand, independent reports from the region, working with detainees of both United States and Iraqi forces, and training others in non-violent intervention and human rights documentation.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is a violence reduction program. Teams of trained peacemakers work in areas of lethal conflict around the world.


CPT Timeline in Iraq (click on headlines to read the full story)

6/1/04 Dossier on detainees presented to Iraqi authority

Four months before the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, Christian Peacemaker Teams presented the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq with a dossier of statistical data compiled from seventy-two case studies of the treatment of Iraqi detainees, including torture.

23/3/04 CPT launch 'adopt an Iraqi detainee' programme

Following stories of abuse of detainees, CPT launches an "Adopt-a-Detainee" Campaign which matches individual Iraqi detainees with church congregations.

13/4/04 Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence

CPT writed to US ambassador, Paul Bremer, suggesting that the excessive use of force by the Coalition is contributing to the escalating violence in the country.

15/4/04 CPT advised to leave Iraq

Following the actions of the U.S. and Coalition Forces in Fallujah which increased suspicion and fear of the intentions of foreign armies, CPT were advised to leave Iraq temporarily for their own safety.

30/4/04 Abu Ghraib prison scandal breaks and confirms CPT allegations about of torture or Iraqis

CPT continues to report that Iraqi people on the streets have told them repeatedly that the Coalition's use of excessive force encourages greater resistance.

30/4/04 CPT challenges US claim that Iraqi torture is isolated incident

The claim by the US military that the torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners shown in pictures on CBS television is an isolated case is challenged by CPT.

6/5/04 CPT challenges US military about Iraqi torture

The suggestion that the US military did not know that abuse of Iraqi prisoners was going on is challenged.

14/5/04 CPT launches in the UK

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) launches in the UK, as a regional group of the North American based organization, and invites Christians to participate in its peacemaking work.

2/8/04 CPT responds to church bombings in Iraq

14/1/05 CPT finds evidence of 'secret prisons' in Iraq

CPT find a map which locates U.S. prisons scattered across Iraq. The map identifies eighteen prisons, though Multinational Forces (MNF) usually refer only to Abu Ghraib and Bucca Camp, and, sometimes, Camp Cropper, at the Baghdad International Airport, which holds more prominent detainees.

23/01/05 Iraqi women organise economic boycott of US

CPT works with Iraqi women who oppose the invasion and occupation of Iraq

31/1/05 Christian peacemakers question conduct of Iraq elections

CPT conducts informal monitoring the Iraqi elections - because of concerns about the U.S. influence on this Iraqi election - and raises concerns about their conduct

9/2/05 Christians aid Muslim nonviolence initiative in Iraq

CPT trains muslim peacemakers

28/11/05 CPT members in Iraq abducted


For more information on CPT you can visit the CPT website