Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers

Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers

-06/01/06

An inter-faith

Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers

-06/01/06

An inter-faith and cross-community vigil is to be held for the kidnapped Iraq peace worker Norman Kember in the centre of Birmingham, Englandís second city.

The gathering ñ along with another in Londonís Trafalgar Square ñ will take place at 11.30 GMT on 7 January 2006, in Chamberlain Square.

The event is being organised by Dr Kemberís friend the Rev John Johansen-Berg, international director of the Community for Reconciliation, which works in Romania.

Mr Johansen-Berg, from Worcester, is also involved with the Christian pacifist organisation of which Norman Kember is a trustee, the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He is a former moderator of the United Reformed Church.

Dr Kember, from Pinner, north London, was seized in Baghdad on 26 November 2005. He was taken captive along with Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, and American Tom Fox.

Mr Johansen-Berg said the passing of the December 2005 deadlines set by captors of the four men, the Swords of Truth Brigades, had made life very stressful for Dr Kember’s family ñ who have just issued a call appeal for his release through an Arabic satellite broadcast.

He told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester yesterday: ìI think it has been a very tense and difficult time for the family. They have done a couple of interviews on al-Jazeera TV and organised advertising in Baghdad so they can make an appeal for Norman’s return.î

The vigil for Dr Kember will begin at 11.30 GMT and is being billed as a multicultural event with people of all faiths and none joining together. It will include representatives of Birmingham’s mosques and synagogues.

[Also on Ekklesia: Regular updates on FaithInSociety weblog; News: Norman Kember’s wife in new TV appeal to Iraq captors 06/01/06; New London vigil for Norman Kember announced 04/01/06; Christian Peacemaker Teams seek meeting with President Bush 04/01/06 (includes complete index of related articles on this site); Speculation continues over kidnapped peace workers in Iraq 04/01/06; Middle East Christians and Muslims renew plea for Iraq captives 01/01/06; Baptists urge support for Norman Kember 31/12/05; Vigils go on for Christian Peacemaker Teams hostages in Iraq 30/12/05. Key book: Patricia Gates-Brown (ed.), Getting in the Way: Stories from Christian Peacemaker Teams, Herald Press; All faiths candlelit vigil in London for Norman Kember; Kember supporters urged to keep hope alive; Christians and Muslims show continued support for Norman Kember; Former Guantanamo Bay detainees call for release of Christian peace workers]

Birmingham inter-faith vigil for Kember and Iraq peace workers

-06/01/06

An inter-faith and cross-community vigil is to be held for the kidnapped Iraq peace worker Norman Kember in the centre of Birmingham, England’s second city.

The gathering – along with another in London’s Trafalgar Square – will take place at 11.30 GMT on 7 January 2006, in Chamberlain Square.

The event is being organised by Dr Kember’s friend the Rev John Johansen-Berg, international director of the Community for Reconciliation, which works in Romania.

Dr Kember, from Pinner, north London, was seized in Baghdad on 26 November 2005. He was taken captive along with Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, and American Tom Fox.

Mr Johansen-Berg said the passing of the December 2005 deadlines set by captors of the four men, the Swords of Truth Brigades, had made life very stressful for Dr Kember’s family – who have just issued a call appeal for his release through an Arabic satellite broadcast.

He told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester yesterday: ‘I think it has been a very tense and difficult time for the family. They have done a couple of interviews on al-Jazeera TV and organised advertising in Baghdad so they can make an appeal for Norman’s return.’