prisoners in US and Iraqi detention centres are released, the Arabic news channel Aljazeera reported Friday, December 2.
In a videotape aired by Aljazeera captors gave the two governments until Thursday, December 8, to meet their demands. The four hostages, American Tom Fox (54), Briton Norman Kember (74), and Canadians James Loney (41) and Harmeet Singh Sooden (32) are associated with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), an international violence-reduction organization.
CPT confirmed that it "is aware of a second video tape that makes reference to demands and a specific timeline for those demands to be met." In a statement monitored by BosNewsLife, CPT said it was "investigating this situation."
The tape aired on Friday, December 2, showed the two Canadian eating from plates of what appeared to be Arabic sweets. In a second clip, the Briton and American hostages were shown talking to the camera but no audio was transmitted. All four appeared frightened, Aljazeera said.
"FOUR SPIES"
The two were calling on the US and British governments to withdraw from Iraq, Aljazeera said, quoting the kidnappers’ statement. In an earlier video message the kidnappers, calling themselves the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, described the hostages as "four spies working undercover as Christian peace activists."
CPT strongly denied the accusations. "We appeal to those holding these activists to release them unharmed so that they may continue their vital work as witnesses and peacemakers," CPT said in an open appeal on it website signed by dozens of people including writers, activists, church leaders and UN and other officials, among them Ralph Nader, a former US independent presidential candidate.
"They are people who have dedicated their lives to fighting against war and have clearly and publicly opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq. They are people of faith, but they are not missionaries. They have deep respect for the Islamic faith and for the right of Iraqis to self-determination," the appeal said.
FAMILY CONCERNED
Family members of the hostages also expressed concern. Tom Fox’s daughter said she wanted to "communicate just how loved my father is, but more than that, I just want to hug him. I want to find a way to give him back the strength he has given me. I want to show him how much the peace in his heart has inspired me and helped me find my way in life."
Family of Norman Kember stressed in a statement they were convinced the retired professor and well-known peace activist "knows that many people are praying for his early release. We are grateful for all the messages of support that we are receiving."
Canadians were also praying. The family of Harmeet Sooden said it remains "extremely concerned by events surrounding his capture and are hoping for his immediate and safe return. We wish to stress again, that he was in Iraq solely for peaceful purposes and was passionate about taking an active role in giving humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people."
"TIRELESS WORK"
James Loney’s family members and friends said in published remarks on the CPT website they are "proud of our son, brother, uncle, and friend for his tireless work with the oppressed. We love him and are praying for his safe return."
The mother and sister of a German woman taken hostage in Iraq also called on her captors to show mercy and release her in an appeal shown on Aljazeera on Friday, December 2. "We beg of you – be merciful and graceful with my daughter and release her and her escort as soon as possible," Ingrid Hala, mother of the abducted Susanne Osthoff, said in the appeal.
Osthoff, a 43-year-old archaeologist, disappeared a week ago. Earlier this week, her kidnappers said in a videotaped message that they would kill her if Germany did not end all support for the Iraqi government. Germany helps train Iraqi forces outside Iraq but has ruled out sending troops there.
IMAGE ON TAPE
An image from the tape, delivered to Germany’s ARD public television in Baghdad, showed what appeared to be Osthoff and her driver sitting on the ground surrounded by three armed, masked men.
"We appeal to you to spare the lives of my innocent sister and her escort," her sister Anja Osthoff said. "My sister has lived for a long time in your country and is devoted to it. She brought sick people medicine. She loves Iraq’s great culture."
It was not clear who had abducted the archaeologist, a converted Muslim who had spent about 15 years working on excavations in Iraq before UN sanctions forced foreign experts out of the country in the late 1980s, news reports said.
It came as elsewhere in Iraq a roadside bomb killed 10 Marines and wounded 11 while they were on a foot patrol near Fallujah, the Marine Corps said Friday, in the deadliest attack on American troops in nearly four months. Thursday’s bomb, which was made from several large artillery shells, struck members of Regimental Combat Team 8 of the 2nd Marine Division near the city about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Baghdad, The Associated Press (AP) news agency quoted the Marine Corps as saying.(With BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and reports from Iraq).
