Christian peacemaker Tom Fox killed in Iraq

-11/03/2006

The Federal Bureau of Investiga


Christian peacemaker Tom Fox killed in Iraq

-11/03/2006

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Department in the USA has confirmed that the body of an American citizen found in Iraq yesterday is that of Tom Fox, one of four Christian peace activists kidnapped on 26 November 2005.

Fox’s family has been informed of the tragic loss. There is no further news of the other hostages – Briton Norman Kember and Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden ñ who were seen recently on a video released to the al-Jazeera TV station.

Expressions of sorrow and solidarity have begun to pour into the headquarters of Christian Peacemaker Teams, following the news of Tom Foxís death.

CPT, an ecumenically-supported ministry of the historic peace churches (Mennonites, Brethren in Christ and Quakers), says that the awful outcome of the kidnap saga will not deter their determination to confront Iraqís occupation and cycle of violence with ìunarmed loveî.

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At a hastily convened global press conference in Chicago this morning, the following statement was released the worldís media:

ìIn grief we tremble before God who wraps us with compassion. The death of our beloved colleague and friend pierces us with pain. Tom Fox’s body was found in Baghdad yesterday.

ìChristian Peacemaker Teams extends our deep and heartfelt condolences to the family and community of Tom Fox, with whom we have traveled so closely in these days of crisis.

ìWe mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone.

ìWe renew our plea for the safe release of Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember.

ìEach of our teammates has responded to Jesus’s prophetic call to live out a nonviolent alternative to the cycle of violence and revenge.

ìIn response to Tom’s passing, we ask that everyone set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done.

ìIn Tom’s own words: ëWe reject violence to punish anyone. We ask that there be no retaliation on relatives or property. We forgive those who consider us their enemies. We hope that in loving both friends and enemies and by intervening nonviolently to aid those who are systematically oppressed, we can contribute in some small way to transforming this volatile situation.í

ìEven as we grieve the loss of our beloved colleague, we stand in the light of his strong witness to the power of love and the courage of nonviolence. That light reveals the way out of fear and grief and war.

ìThrough these days of crisis, Christian Peacemaker Teams has been surrounded and upheld by a great outpouring of compassion: messages of support, acts of mercy, prayers, and public actions offered by the most senior religious councils and by school children, by political leaders and by those organizing for justice and human rights, by friends in distant nations and by strangers near at hand.

ìThese words and actions sustain us.

ìWhile one of our teammates is lost to us, the strength of this outpouring is not lost to Godís movement for just peace among all peoples.

ìAt the forefront of that support are strong and courageous actions from Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world for which we are profoundly grateful.

ìTheir graciousness inspires us to continue working for the day when Christians speak up as boldly for the human rights of thousands Iraqis still detained illegally by the United States and United Kingdom.

ìSuch an outpouring of action for justice and peace would be a fitting memorial for Tom.

ìLet us all join our voices on behalf of those who continue to suffer under occupation, whose loved ones have been killed or are missing, and in so doing may we hasten the day when both those who are wrongly detained and those who bear arms will return safely to their homes.

ìIn such a peace we will find solace for our grief.

ìDespite the tragedy of this day, we remain committed to put into practice these words of Jim Loney: ëWith the waging of war, we will not comply. With the help of Godís grace, we will struggle for justice. With God’s abiding kindness, we will love even our enemies.í

ìWe continue in hope for Jim, Harmeet and Norman’s safe return home safe.î


Christian peacemaker Tom Fox killed in Iraq

-11/03/2006

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Department in the USA has confirmed that the body of an American citizen found in Iraq yesterday is that of Tom Fox, one of four Christian peace activists kidnapped on 26 November 2005.

Fox’s family has been informed of the tragic loss. There is no further news of the other hostages – Briton Norman Kember and Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden ñ who were seen recently on a video released to the al-Jazeera TV station.

Expressions of sorrow and solidarity have begun to pour into the headquarters of Christian Peacemaker Teams, following the news of Tom Foxís death.

CPT, an ecumenically-supported ministry of the historic peace churches (Mennonites, Brethren in Christ and Quakers), says that the awful outcome of the kidnap saga will not deter their determination to confront Iraqís occupation and cycle of violence with ìunarmed loveî.

Related Articles

At a hastily convened global press conference in Chicago this morning, the following statement was released the worldís media:

ìIn grief we tremble before God who wraps us with compassion. The death of our beloved colleague and friend pierces us with pain. Tom Fox’s body was found in Baghdad yesterday.

ìChristian Peacemaker Teams extends our deep and heartfelt condolences to the family and community of Tom Fox, with whom we have traveled so closely in these days of crisis.

ìWe mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone.

ìWe renew our plea for the safe release of Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember.

ìEach of our teammates has responded to Jesus’s prophetic call to live out a nonviolent alternative to the cycle of violence and revenge.

ìIn response to Tom’s passing, we ask that everyone set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done.

ìIn Tom’s own words: ëWe reject violence to punish anyone. We ask that there be no retaliation on relatives or property. We forgive those who consider us their enemies. We hope that in loving both friends and enemies and by intervening nonviolently to aid those who are systematically oppressed, we can contribute in some small way to transforming this volatile situation.í

ìEven as we grieve the loss of our beloved colleague, we stand in the light of his strong witness to the power of love and the courage of nonviolence. That light reveals the way out of fear and grief and war.

ìThrough these days of crisis, Christian Peacemaker Teams has been surrounded and upheld by a great outpouring of compassion: messages of support, acts of mercy, prayers, and public actions offered by the most senior religious councils and by school children, by political leaders and by those organizing for justice and human rights, by friends in distant nations and by strangers near at hand.

ìThese words and actions sustain us.

ìWhile one of our teammates is lost to us, the strength of this outpouring is not lost to Godís movement for just peace among all peoples.

ìAt the forefront of that support are strong and courageous actions from Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world for which we are profoundly grateful.

ìTheir graciousness inspires us to continue working for the day when Christians speak up as boldly for the human rights of thousands Iraqis still detained illegally by the United States and United Kingdom.

ìSuch an outpouring of action for justice and peace would be a fitting memorial for Tom.

ìLet us all join our voices on behalf of those who continue to suffer under occupation, whose loved ones have been killed or are missing, and in so doing may we hasten the day when both those who are wrongly detained and those who bear arms will return safely to their homes.

ìIn such a peace we will find solace for our grief.

ìDespite the tragedy of this day, we remain committed to put into practice these words of Jim Loney: ëWith the waging of war, we will not comply. With the help of Godís grace, we will struggle for justice. With God’s abiding kindness, we will love even our enemies.í

ìWe continue in hope for Jim, Harmeet and Norman’s safe return home safe.î