URGENT REQUEST

If you have not been watching the news lately, please turn on your tv and start. A good friend of mine, Kristin, working with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Palestine sent a sad and disturbing email today.


Four men working with the delegation in Iraq have been taken hostage by a violent group, calling themselves the Swords of Righteosness Brigade. They have recorded two vidoes, and their demands are high. They are demanding the United States and Iraq to release all prisoners in U.S. and Iraqi detention centers. The video, broadcast Dec. 2 on Al-Jazeera, gave the two governments until Dec. 8 to meet their demands, according to a message delivered with the videotape, news reports said. If they do not comply, they are threatening the lives of the men they have in custody. They are making a huge mistake in the hostages they have taken.

These CPTers are not a threat to them, but have fighting for the rights of the same Iraqi prisoners in these detention centers. There have been several petitions aired on behalf of the men, but the more this insurgency group airs tapes of the men, the more their lives are in danger. PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE MEN! Please read on to get a glimpse into who they are.

Tom Fox, age 54, is from Clearbrook, Virginia and is a dedicated father of two children. For the past two years, Mr. Fox has worked with CPT in partnership with Iraqi human rights organizations to promote peace.




Norman Kember, age 74, is from London, England. He and his wife of 45 years have two married daughters and a 3-year old grandson. He has been a pacifist all his life beginning with his work in a hospital instead of National Service at age 18.



James Loney, 41, is a community worker from Toronto, Canada. He has been a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams since August 2000, and is currently the Program Coordinator for CPT Canada. On previous visits to Iraq, his work focused on taking testimonies from families of detainees for CPT's report on detainee abuse, and making recommendations for securing basic legal rights. James was leading the November 2005 delegation in Iraq when he went missing.


Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 is a Canadian electrical engineer from Montreal. He studdied at McGill University and is now working on a masters degree in English literature inAuckland University in New Zealand to prepare for a teaching career.




If you want to read more about these men and read more about CPT as an organization, visit their website at http://www.cpt.org/ In the meanwhile, please stay tuned to the news and pray for the safety of these men.