Joe Carr: Abducted in Iraq! 12,000 Iraqis and Four Friends

I continue to follow the story of my missing friends with fear and saddness. Though I remain hopeful that they will be released, I fear the worst is becoming more possible. In the most recent video, the kidnapers
say they will kill their hostages on Thursday unless the US releases innocent Iraqis illegally imprisoned in US detention facilities. Checkout www.lovinrevolution.org for pictures, other reports, music and more.

Abducted in Iraq!
12,000 Iraqis and Four Friends
By Joe Carr

3 Feb, 2005

I continue to follow the story of my missing friends with fear and
saddness. Though I remain hopeful that they will be released, I fear the
worst is becoming more possible. In the most recent video, the kidnapers
say they will kill their hostages on Thursday unless the US releases
innocent Iraqis illegally imprisoned in US detention facilities.

Though I fear for my friends' lives, I agree that the US should release
their hostages, (90% of which are innocent). Such demands are actually
quite appropriate given CPT's fervent work for Iraqi detainee rights.
Rembering the around 12,000 Iraqi prisoners facing ongoing torture and
abuse in US and Iraqi detention facilities puts the plight of these four
westerners in context.

It is amazing to see the heartwarming statements of support for CPT by
Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and other activists throughout the world.
However, it upsets me that so many western activists are suddenly so
vocally outraged at the detention of these four western activists, when
the plight of Iraqis is so much more dire.

It reminds me of the discomfort I experienced from the West's reaction to
the murder of my friend Rachel Corrie. I was glad that her passing helped
wake people up to the nature of Israeli brutality and inspired some to do
more for Palestine, but I'm disturbed that it took the death of a white
American to get them there.

I understand that it is easier for us to identify with those we see as
"like us", and I consider it an important privilege that I personally use
to further the Palestinian and Iraqi cause. But I look forward to the day
when we will be equally outraged by the oppression of our brothers and
sisters that may not look, live, or pray like the west. May we someday be
able to identify with any human being that is suffering, and work to aid
them with the same passion as we do our fellow white westerners.

I call on all of you upset and disturbed by the abduction of my friends to
direct that outrage and indignation toward the US colonial forces in Iraq
and throughout the globe. The US Empire is the root of violence in the
Middle East; CPTers know this and went to Iraq with this understanding. We
accepted the dangers and understood that risking our privileged lives and
safely is the least we could do to resist the violent oppression done in
our name. Therefore, I feel that the best way to support the kidnapped
CPTers is to continue their support for the Iraqi freedom struggle, and
pray for everyone who is suffering.

In fear and sadness for my endangered friends
In firm opposition to US colonial oppression
In solidarity with the Iraqi resistance

-joe

Below is a Guardian article about the recent developments, and an ISM
press release about the outpouring of Palestinian support for CPT and
their work.

Joe "Yousef" Carr
www.lovinrevolution.org
Anti-Oppression Activist & Performance Artist
1-816-805-7133
joecarr@riseup.net




http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1656929,00.html?gusrc=rss

Hostages will be killed on Thursday unless Iraqi
prisoners are freed, say kidnappers

· Video threat is aired on al-Jazeera television
· Foreign Office remains hopeful of men's release

Alex Kumi
Saturday December 3, 2005
The Guardian


An Iraqi group holding four western peace
activists hostage including Briton Norman Kember
released a video last night in which they
threatened to kill the men unless their demands
were met.

The kidnappers, who call themselves the Swords of
Truth, said the four would die on Thursday unless
Iraqi prisoners were released. The video was
aired on Arab television station al-Jazeera.

Mr Kember, 74, from Pinner, north-west London, is
being held with three other men two Canadians and
an American. They were seized from western
Baghdad last Saturday.

In the video Mr Kember, a retired medical
physicist who was in Iraq as part of a Christian
peace team, spoke directly to the camera but the
sound was not audible. The camera then panned
across to show two of the other men being held.

Mr Kember was working on behalf of Christian
Peacemaker Teams (CPT), a Canada-based
international peace group. Maureen Jack, from
CPT, who has spent time in Iraq, said the group
had been campaigning on behalf of a number of
detainees held by the US in Iraqi jails.

"These are all men who have been in strong
opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq
and the human rights abuses that it has
entailed," she said.

The abduction and video ultimatum was a grim
reminder of the succession of hostage dramas in
Iraq through 2004, culminating with the
executions of engineer Ken Bigley and aid worker
Margaret Hassan. But although kidnappings have
not abated this year, the filmed executions of
hostages have, leading some to hope that chapter
of the Iraq war was over.

Ms Jack, who recently returned from the West
Bank, said a demonstration was staged in Ramallah
on Thursday calling for the group to be returned
to their families. "It's clear that the
Palestinian people recognise that the people who
are missing are totally committed to peace and
ending the US occupation of Iraq," she said.

Another associate of Mr Kember, Chris Cole from
the Fellowship of Reconciliation, said the video
was a dismal development. "We have been quite
hopeful over the last few days," he said.
"There's been a lot of calls from groups in the
Middle East and here in the west, saying that
these are people of peace. We were hoping that
would have some impact. The news tonight is
extremely upsetting..."

The Foreign Office said it was investigating the
video and was still hopeful that Mr Kember and
his colleagues would be released. Canada's prime
minister, Paul Martin, said the threat to kill
the Canadian hostages was an act of terrorism
against men of faith who had gone to aid Iraqis.

"This is a callous act of terror against innocent people," he told reporters.

"Let us remember these people are in the country
on a humanitarian mission. They came to help the
Iraqi people. They are men of faith." Earlier
this week the insurgents released a video in
which they accused the hostages of being spies.

Mr Kember, who campaigned against the war in
Iraq, was seized from a mosque he was visiting in
a Sunni area of western Baghdad with the three
other hostages. They were reportedly talking to
Muslim clerics about the abuse of Sunni detainees
when they were kidnapped. Before travelling to
Iraq, Mr Kember said the trip was designed as a
"gesture of solidarity" with CPT activists.
Speaking to Premier Christian Radio, he said he
hoped to meet ordinary Iraqis during his visit.



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
International Solidarity Movement

Since the first video of the four Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
members being held hostage in Iraq was released a few days ago,
Palestinians all over the West Bank and Gaza have been calling for
their release unharmed. The CPT is well known for its work against the
occupations in both Iraq and Palestine. It is probably most well known
in Palestine for its work against the religious-fundamentalist Israeli
settlers in Hebron.

Yesterday in Tuwani, locals held a demonstration calling for the
release of the four. Palestinian women and children held up picture of
the kidnapped peace activists and held up signs in Arabic saying things
such as, "We ask you to release the CPT members. They work in
international solidarity for civil rights." On the 1st of December,
300 Palestinians demonstrated in Ramallah in solidarity with the four.
The demonstration was attended by Abu Hasan Morrar a representative of
the Islamic Council of Palestine, Shawkat Samha the mayor of the town
of Jayyous, Fatima Asi of the Women For Life group in the Salfit region
and Mustafa Barghouti the general secretary of the Palestinian National
Initiative. All called passionately for the hostage's release, as
demonstrators held up signs in Arabic and English describing the four
as their friends. A statement on behalf of the Popular Committees
Against the Wall was read adding to the call. Palestinians and
internationals who know the hostages personally were on the
demonstration which was attended by Palestinians from Bil'in who
spoke and called on the kidnappers to release the hostages. TV stations
like Al- Jazeera and Al-Arabiya broadcasted stories about the
demonstration to viewers in Iraq and around the world. Palestinian
militant groups have also called for the immediate release of the peace
activists. The Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades released a statement saying
that "these activists are the friends of the martyr Rachel Corrie who
was killed while protecting Palestinian homes in Gaza. We know who
these people are and like us they stand against the apartheid wall and
the Israeli occupation. We call on the kidnappers to release these
people so they can come to Palestine to stand on the side of oppressed
people."

The National and Islamic Forces in Hebron issued a statement signed by
such militant/political groups as Hamas and the DFLP saying that they
"confirm that the CPTers have a very strong role in facing Israeli
crimes and in protecting the life of the Palestinians. They have put
themselves in many situations in front of Israeli tanks. They have
confronted Israeli bulldozers and home demolitions and escorted our
children to and from their schools to protectthem from settlers.
Because of all their activities, members of CPT have been followed,
arrested and beaten by Israeli soldiers and settlers on many
occasions."

Religious leaders have also joined the calls. "We demand that these
aid workers be released immediately," said Mufti Ikrema Sabri,
Palestine's top Muslim clergyman.

"We tell them that these aid workers have stood beside Palestinian
people and it's our duty now to stand beside them."

Mustafa Jayyousi a local Palestinian activist in Jayyous who knew Tom
said, "When he worked in Jayyous, Tom was part of a group who went
down to the gates everyday with local farmers to help them access their
lands made inaccessible by the wall. He also participated in
demonstrations with the people of Jayyous against the apartheid Wall in
Jayyous."

Mohammed Ayyesh a local Palestinian activist in Balata camp, Nablus
said of Harmeet, "I was touch with Harmeet and was looking forward to
him coming here to work next week. We must do everything we can to
secure his release."

For more information and interviews:

* Mohammed Ayyesh: 054 621 8759 or 052 222 3374
* Shawkat Samha (Mayor of Jayyous): 0545 861 306, office : +972 92
900 130
* Mustafa Samha (son of Shawkat): 0599 798 361

Hebron Palestinians coordinating with CPT:

* Hisham Sharabati: 972-599-271-190, 972-522-248-399
* Hamed Quasameh: 972-599-339-180
* Mustafa Barghouthi, Palestinian National Initiative, Ramallah,
Tel: 02-298-5372
* CPT Hebron (Rich Meyer): 054-631-5786
* ISM Media office: 02 297 1824
for pictures look here:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/wp-content/capt.jrl12212011903.mideast_israel_palestinians_iraq_kidnapped_jrl122.jpg
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/wp-content/r480762189.jpg
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/wp-content/r912048748.jpg
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/wp-content/capt.jrl12012011629.mideast_israel_palestinians_iraq_kidnapped_jrl120.jpg

Checkout www.lovinrevolution.org for Joe Carr's other reports, pictures, music and more.

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