Church leaders praise Christian peacemakers

-03/04/06

In the face of criticism of Chris


Church leaders praise Christian peacemakers

-03/04/06

In the face of criticism of Christian peacemakers, some from well-known church figures in the UK, a major gathering of British and Irish Christians has sent a message to freed hostage Norman Kember saying that he “went to Iraq as a living testimony to a better way than violence.”

The message from the ecumenical body Churches Together in Britain and Ireland came in a letter following a meeting of representativesí in Coventry.

“Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has heard with great joy the news of your release along with James Loney, and Harmeet Singh Sooden. We remember with sadness the death of Tom Fox on 10 March” the letter said.

“We honour your determination to speak out against all forms of violence. You went to Iraq as a living testimony to a better way than violence. We respect your courage in going to be with the people in their suffering and to be there as witnesses to the plight of Iraqi detainees.”

“We cannot imagine what you and your family have endured. Throughout your captivity people of many faith communities came together to pray and stand in silent vigils together, for your release, and for Iraqi detainees and for their families.

“We commit ourselves to the cause of peace for all people in the region.”

Norman Kember, James Loney, Harmeet Singh Sooden and Tom Fox were captured in Baghdad on 26 November 2005, having gone to Iraq with the Christian Peacemakers Team, who work to reduce violence in areas of conflict around the world.

CPT have been in Iraq since April 2002.

In January 2004 CPT published a detailed report of 72 case-studies highlighting the abuse of detainees and their families at the hands of the US military. They have also helped to establish “Muslim Peacemaker Teams” which have united Shia and Sunni Muslims in Iraq.


Church leaders praise Christian peacemakers

-03/04/06

In the face of criticism of Christian peacemakers, some from well-known church figures in the UK, a major gathering of British and Irish Christians has sent a message to freed hostage Norman Kember saying that he “went to Iraq as a living testimony to a better way than violence.”

The message from the ecumenical body Churches Together in Britain and Ireland came in a letter following a meeting of representativesí in Coventry.

“Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has heard with great joy the news of your release along with James Loney, and Harmeet Singh Sooden. We remember with sadness the death of Tom Fox on 10 March” the letter said.

“We honour your determination to speak out against all forms of violence. You went to Iraq as a living testimony to a better way than violence. We respect your courage in going to be with the people in their suffering and to be there as witnesses to the plight of Iraqi detainees.”

“We cannot imagine what you and your family have endured. Throughout your captivity people of many faith communities came together to pray and stand in silent vigils together, for your release, and for Iraqi detainees and for their families.

“We commit ourselves to the cause of peace for all people in the region.”

Norman Kember, James Loney, Harmeet Singh Sooden and Tom Fox were captured in Baghdad on 26 November 2005, having gone to Iraq with the Christian Peacemakers Team, who work to reduce violence in areas of conflict around the world.

CPT have been in Iraq since April 2002.

In January 2004 CPT published a detailed report of 72 case-studies highlighting the abuse of detainees and their families at the hands of the US military. They have also helped to establish “Muslim Peacemaker Teams” which have united Shia and Sunni Muslims in Iraq.