
What are the opportunities and constraints involved in highlighting non-violent interventions in situations of conflict for the general media? Civil society organizations, academic institutions, faith groups and peace workers are regularly involved in conflict transformation work, and in direct interventions to challenge violence and injustice. While the role of the military is regularly profiled and even celebrated, the contribution of those who act without weapons or contracts is usually overlooked. In part, this is because the nature of peace work is often sensitive and requires a degree of ‘under the radar’ operation. But it also happens because of lack of wider understanding and knowledge of non-violent interventions, and because such interventions do not fit the dominant ‘news narrative’ around conflict. This becomes particularly evident in times of crisis. Here we present a short case study of working with the wider media response to the 2005-6 ‘Iraq hostage crisis’ (as it became known), involving four members of a short-term Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation in Baghdad.
Ekklesia has contributed to a forthcoming book on the Christian Peacemaker Teams Iraq hostage crisis and its ramifications.
Vigil to commemorate the release of Norman Kember and the other hostages in Iraq (26 November 2005 - 23 March 2006), to commemorate the death of Tom Fox and to remember the on-going suffering of peopl
You can get the former Iraq hostage's book via Ekklesia, with proceeds going to peace and justice causes.