More UK vigils announced for Norman Kember and Iraqi peace activists
-21/01/06
The nex
More UK vigils announced for Norman Kember and Iraqi peace activists
-21/01/06
The next two public UK inter-faith vigils to remember Norman Kember and the other three Christian peace activists held captive in Iraq for nearly two months will take place this afternoon and next Thursday.
Friends and supporters of Dr Kember ñ Christians, Muslims and those of other faith and good faith ñ will gather in Nottingham on Saturday, 21st January (today) from 1.30pm – 2pm, meeting in Market Square, city centre.
The London gathering will again be in Trafalgar Square, a well known tourist site, on Thursday 26th January from 6pm – 7pm. The vigil will be outside National Gallery, opposite St Martinís-in-the-Fields Church.
St Martinís is famous for its ministry among the homeless. One of its former rectors, the Rev Dick Sheppard, was himself an active peace campaigner who played a prominent role in the Peace Pledge Union.
Over the years many peace vigils have been held on the steps of St Martinsí. However, the organisers of these events, the Fellowship of Reconciliation (an association of religious pacifists) and Pax Christi (the Catholic peace movement) decided to opt for a neutral space conducive to those of other or no faith.
They are emphasising the fact that while the CPT four are acting for peace, justice and human rights from a progressive Christian perspective, the campaign for their release brings together people from a range of religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Pat Kember, Normanís wife, and the relatives of Harmeet Singh Sooden, Tom Fox and Jim Loney, have all expressed gratitude for the large number of Muslim leaders and Islamic radicals who wish to see the four set free by their captors.
The group concerned, which identified itself as Swords of Truth (Righteousness) Brigades, have maintained silence for over a month ñ in spite of media appeals in Iraq and through al-Jazeera.
Christian Peacemaker Teams in the US and Canada is continuing to call for people of conscience around the world to pursue non-violent public actions for peace and for prayer in support of international human rights and the ending of war and occupation in Iraq.
CPT says: ìWe remain concerned about the well-being of our team-mates. At the same time, we remain concerned about the well-being of all Iraqis who are suffering under occupation.î
They continue: ìThose who are with our team-mates have demanded the release from captivity of the Iraqi detainees held in United States and Iraqi prisons.î
Christian Peacemaker Teams stresses that no single person, no single nation, can meet the demands of justice and peace. They say it is everyone’s responsibility to do their part to bring each combatant and each captive home.
Meanwhile, it appears that the majority Shiíites have secured overall victory in the recent elections ñ and the security situation remains tight in the face of the continuing insurgency threat.
There is also continuing concern at the level of kidnappings of both Iraqis and foreigners, including freelance Christian Science Monitor journalist Jill Carroll, whose captors have not been heard of since the elapse of a deadline they set for their demands.
Senior Sunni clerics and scholars, as well as Muslims in France, the US and other parts of the world have called for her release.
[Excerpts from Ekklesia’s extensive coverage of CPT and the Iraq hostage crisis: Christian Peacemakers in Iraq replace team member as crisis continues 20/01/06; Jill Carroll’s captors issue videotape demands 17/01/06 Peacemaker vigils in Washington and Toronto focus on Iraq policy 17/01/06 Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four; Briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams; Iraq peacemaker describes the agony of waiting; Muslims urge release of Christian peacemakers missing in Iraq; Christian Peacemaker Teams seek meeting with President Bush; Al-Jazeera releases film of Iraq peace hostages; Christian peacemakers say the work must go on; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Adopt-an-Iraqi-Detainee programme closed – includes comprehensive list of all Ekklesias coverage; regular updates on FaithInSociety weblog.]
More UK vigils announced for Norman Kember and Iraqi peace activists
-21/01/06
The next two public UK inter-faith vigils to remember Norman Kember and the other three Christian peace activists held captive in Iraq for nearly two months will take place this afternoon and next Thursday.
Friends and supporters of Dr Kember – Christians, Muslims and those of other faith and good faith – will gather in Nottingham on Saturday, 21st January (today) from 1.30pm – 2pm, meeting in Market Square, city centre.
The London gathering will again be in Trafalgar Square, a well known tourist site, on Thursday 26th January from 6pm – 7pm. The vigil will be outside National Gallery, opposite St Martin’s-in-the-Fields Church.
St Martin’s is famous for its ministry among the homeless. One of its former rectors, the Rev Dick Sheppard, was himself an active peace campaigner who played a prominent role in the Peace Pledge Union.
Over the years many peace vigils have been held on the steps of St Martins’. However, the organisers of these events, the Fellowship of Reconciliation (an association of religious pacifists) and Pax Christi (the Catholic peace movement) decided to opt for a neutral space conducive to those of other or no faith.
They are emphasising the fact that while the CPT four are acting for peace, justice and human rights from a progressive Christian perspective, the campaign for their release brings together people from a range of religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Pat Kember, Norman’s wife, and the relatives of Harmeet Singh Sooden, Tom Fox and Jim Loney, have all expressed gratitude for the large number of Muslim leaders and Islamic radicals who wish to see the four set free by their captors.
The group concerned, which identified itself as Swords of Truth (Righteousness) Brigades, have maintained silence for over a month – in spite of media appeals in Iraq and through al-Jazeera.
Christian Peacemaker Teams in the US and Canada is continuing to call for people of conscience around the world to pursue non-violent public actions for peace and for prayer in support of international human rights and the ending of war and occupation in Iraq.
CPT says: ‘We remain concerned about the well-being of our team-mates. At the same time, we remain concerned about the well-being of all Iraqis who are suffering under occupation.’
They continue: ‘Those who are with our team-mates have demanded the release from captivity of the Iraqi detainees held in United States and Iraqi prisons.’
Christian Peacemaker Teams stresses that no single person, no single nation, can meet the demands of justice and peace. They say it is everyone’s responsibility to do their part to bring each combatant and each captive home.
Meanwhile, it appears that the majority Shi’ites have secured overall victory in the recent elections – and the security situation remains tight in the face of the continuing insurgency threat.
There is also continuing concern at the level of kidnappings of both Iraqis and foreigners, including freelance Christian Science Monitor journalist Jill Carroll, whose captors have not been heard of since the elapse of a deadline they set for their demands.
Senior Sunni clerics and scholars, as well as Muslims in France, the US and other parts of the world have called for her release.
[Excerpts from Ekklesia’s extensive coverage of CPT and the Iraq hostage crisis: Christian Peacemakers in Iraq replace team member as crisis continues 20/01/06; Jill Carroll’s captors issue videotape demands 17/01/06 Peacemaker vigils in Washington and Toronto focus on Iraq policy 17/01/06 Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four; Briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams; Iraq peacemaker describes the agony of waiting; Muslims urge release of Christian peacemakers missing in Iraq; Christian Peacemaker Teams seek meeting with President Bush; Al-Jazeera releases film of Iraq peace hostages; Christian peacemakers say the work must go on; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Adopt-an-Iraqi-Detainee programme closed – includes comprehensive list of all Ekklesias coverage; regular updates on FaithInSociety weblog.]