Muslim detainees plead for lives of Christian peacemakers
-06/12/05
In a remarkable dev
Muslim detainees plead for lives of Christian peacemakers
-06/12/05
In a remarkable development as the deadline set down by the captors of four Christian peacemakers in Iraq looms, three Muslim detainees who have themselves been held for years without charge, have urged that the hostages be shown mercy and set free.
In a film shown by Al-Jazeera television on Friday, a group calling itself ‘Sword of Truth’ said they would kill their Christian hostages unless all US and UK prisoners were released by this Thursday (8th December).
However three Muslims who have been detained without charge for between four and five years in Canada have urged that they be set free.
In a statement, Mahmoud Jaballah, Mohammad Mahjoub and Hassan Almrei, who have spent as much as four years in solitary confinement, say that one of the hostages, James Loney, has worked for the freedom of Muslims who have been detained without trial in this way.
They also point out that James helped the families of the Abu Ghraib prisoners and opposed the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.
“Some of us have spent as many as four years in solitary confinement. We are being held captive under security certificates because the government of Canada alleges we are linked to terrorist organizations and that we pose a threat to the national security of Canada.” they said.
“We are suffering a great injustice here in Canada because the government stereotypes Muslims and because of our strong faith and daily attendance to mosque. We have been suffering innocently.”
But they continue: “Many Canadians have heard of our injustice and have been supporting us in our fight for freedom by contacting politicians, by holding demonstrations in front of the jail, by writing letters to authorities and spreading the word all over Canada by way of media.”
“James Loney of the Christian Peacemaker Teams is one of thousands of people who have been fighting to right this wrong. He is a person who has organized and motivated people to participate in this struggle for what is right. We have recently seen a photo of him in the newspaper and it has saddened our hearts to learn that he is being held captive in Iraq.”
“This is the same James Loney who has travelled to Iraq on more than one occasion to help the people of Iraq. This is the same James Loney who has reached out to the families of the Abu Ghraib prisoners. This is the James Loney who was against the U.S. invasion and is against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
“It pains our heart to know that a person of this calibre is being held captive. We care about his freedom more than we do our own.
“If you love Allah, if you have goodness in your heart, please deal with this matter as righteous Muslims and not let these kind, caring, compassionate and innocent people suffer. Prophet Mohammad, Peace be upon Him, said, “If you do not thank the people, you do not thank Allah.” The Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, also said, “If someone did a favour to you, try to return his favour.
“We hope and pray to see these captives freed as much as we hope and pray for our own freedom here in Canada, a freedom for which James Loney has worked so hard.”
A full briefing on CPT can be found here
Petition for the release of the four captives.
Prayer vigil information; Mennonite Church USA Peace and Justice Support Network. UK vigils – Fellowship of Reconciliation.
[Also on Ekklesia: Iraqi, Muslim and Palestinian support for peace hostages grows 04/12/05; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Muslims urge release of Christian peacemakers missing in Iraq; Christian peace activists launch in the UK; Christian peacemakers advised to leave Iraq; Vigils and messages of support for abducted peace activist; Palestinian bishop seeks mercy for Iraq peace workers]
The full text of the statement is as follows:
To the people holding James Loney and the other Christian Peacemaker Team
Members in Iraq,
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and Merciful,
Our names are Mahmoud Jaballah, Mohammad Mahjoub and Hassan Almrei, and we have been detained without charge for between four and five- and-a-half years. Some of us have spent as many as four years in solitary confinement as well. We are being held captive under security certificates because the government of Canada alleges we are linked to terrorist organizations and that we pose a threat to the national security of Canada. Allah is witness to our innocence of these allegations.
We are suffering a great injustice here in Canada because the government stereotypes Muslims and because of our strong faith and daily attendance to mosque. We have been suffering innocently.
Many Canadians have heard of our injustice and have been supporting us in our fight for freedom by contacting politicians, by holding demonstrations in front of the jail, by writing letters to authorities and spreading the word all over Canada by way of media.
James Loney of the Christian Peacemaker Teams is one of thousands of people who have been fighting to right this wrong. He is a person who has organized and motivated people to participate in this struggle for what is right. We have recently seen a photo of him in the newspaper and it has saddened our hearts to learn that he is being held captive in Iraq.
This is the same James Loney who has travelled to Iraq on more than one occasion to help the people of Iraq. This is the same James Loney who has reached out to the families of the Abu Ghraib prisoners. This is the James Loney who was against the U.S. invasion and is against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
It pains our heart to know that a person of this calibre is being held captive. We care about his freedom more than we do our own.
If you love Allah, if you have goodness in your heart, please deal with this matter as righteous Muslims and not let these kind, caring, compassionate and innocent people suffer. Prophet Mohammad, Peace be upon Him, said, “If you do not thank the people, you do not thank Allah.” The Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, also said, “If someone did a favour to you, try to return his favour.”
We hope and pray to see these captives freed as much as we hope and pray for our own freedom here in Canada, a freedom for which James Loney has worked so hard.
Muslim detainees plead for lives of Christian peacemakers
-06/12/05
In a remarkable development as the deadline set down by the captors of four Christian peacemakers in Iraq looms, three Muslim detainees who have themselves been held for years without charge, have urged that the hostages be shown mercy and set free.
In a film shown by Al-Jazeera television on Friday, a group calling itself ‘Sword of Truth’ said they would kill their Christian hostages unless all US and UK prisoners were released by this Thursday (8th December).
However three Muslims who have been detained without charge for between four and five years in Canada have urged that they be set free.
In a statement, Mahmoud Jaballah, Mohammad Mahjoub and Hassan Almrei, who have spent as much as four years in solitary confinement, say that one of the hostages, James Loney, has worked for the freedom of Muslims who have been detained without trial in this way.
They also point out that James helped the families of the Abu Ghraib prisoners and opposed the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.
“Some of us have spent as many as four years in solitary confinement. We are being held captive under security certificates because the government of Canada alleges we are linked to terrorist organizations and that we pose a threat to the national security of Canada.” they said.
“We are suffering a great injustice here in Canada because the government stereotypes Muslims and because of our strong faith and daily attendance to mosque. We have been suffering innocently.”
But they continue: “Many Canadians have heard of our injustice and have been supporting us in our fight for freedom by contacting politicians, by holding demonstrations in front of the jail, by writing letters to authorities and spreading the word all over Canada by way of media.”
“James Loney of the Christian Peacemaker Teams is one of thousands of people who have been fighting to right this wrong. He is a person who has organized and motivated people to participate in this struggle for what is right. We have recently seen a photo of him in the newspaper and it has saddened our hearts to learn that he is being held captive in Iraq.”
“This is the same James Loney who has travelled to Iraq on more than one occasion to help the people of Iraq. This is the same James Loney who has reached out to the families of the Abu Ghraib prisoners. This is the James Loney who was against the U.S. invasion and is against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
“It pains our heart to know that a person of this calibre is being held captive. We care about his freedom more than we do our own.
“If you love Allah, if you have goodness in your heart, please deal with this matter as righteous Muslims and not let these kind, caring, compassionate and innocent people suffer. Prophet Mohammad, Peace be upon Him, said, “If you do not thank the people, you do not thank Allah.” The Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, also said, “If someone did a favour to you, try to return his favour.
“We hope and pray to see these captives freed as much as we hope and pray for our own freedom here in Canada, a freedom for which James Loney has worked so hard.”
A full briefing on CPT can be found here
Petition for the release of the four captives.
Prayer vigil information; Mennonite Church USA Peace and Justice Support Network. UK vigils – Fellowship of Reconciliation.
[Also on Ekklesia: Iraqi, Muslim and Palestinian support for peace hostages grows 04/12/05; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Muslims urge release of Christian peacemakers missing in Iraq; Christian peace activists launch in the UK; Christian peacemakers advised to leave Iraq; Vigils and messages of support for abducted peace activist; Palestinian bishop seeks mercy for Iraq peace workers]
The full text of the statement is as follows:
To the people holding James Loney and the other Christian Peacemaker Team
Members in Iraq,
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and Merciful,
Our names are Mahmoud Jaballah, Mohammad Mahjoub and Hassan Almrei, and we have been detained without charge for between four and five- and-a-half years. Some of us have spent as many as four years in solitary confinement as well. We are being held captive under security certificates because the government of Canada alleges we are linked to terrorist organizations and that we pose a threat to the national security of Canada. Allah is witness to our innocence of these allegations.
We are suffering a great injustice here in Canada because the government stereotypes Muslims and because of our strong faith and daily attendance to mosque. We have been suffering innocently.
Many Canadians have heard of our injustice and have been supporting us in our fight for freedom by contacting politicians, by holding demonstrations in front of the jail, by writing letters to authorities and spreading the word all over Canada by way of media.
James Loney of the Christian Peacemaker Teams is one of thousands of people who have been fighting to right this wrong. He is a person who has organized and motivated people to participate in this struggle for what is right. We have recently seen a photo of him in the newspaper and it has saddened our hearts to learn that he is being held captive in Iraq.
This is the same James Loney who has travelled to Iraq on more than one occasion to help the people of Iraq. This is the same James Loney who has reached out to the families of the Abu Ghraib prisoners. This is the James Loney who was against the U.S. invasion and is against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
It pains our heart to know that a person of this calibre is being held captive. We care about his freedom more than we do our own.
If you love Allah, if you have goodness in your heart, please deal with this matter as righteous Muslims and not let these kind, caring, compassionate and innocent people suffer. Prophet Mohammad, Peace be upon Him, said, “If you do not thank the people, you do not thank Allah.” The Prophet, Peace be Upon Him, also said, “If someone did a favour to you, try to return his favour.”
We hope and pray to see these captives freed as much as we hope and pray for our own freedom here in Canada, a freedom for which James Loney has worked so hard.