An open letter has been released on behalf of the Christian peacemakers held hostage in Iraq since November 26, 2005. The letter, which was signed by a multi-faith list of 42 leading religious leaders, was presented Monday Feb. 6th, at the Foreign Press Association in Central London.
The letter comes following the most recent video footage of the four peacemakers - Norman Kember, Tom Fox, James Loney, and Harmeet Singh Sooden- shown on Al Jazeera on Jan. 28th.Hosted by the International Catholic Movement for Peace organisation, Pax Christi, the presentation included speakers Rev. John Rackley, former President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, Bruce Kent, a personal friend of Norman Kember and Vice-President of Pax Christi, and Anas Altikriti , former president of the Muslim Association of Britain.
Mrs. Pat Kember, wife of British hostage Norman Kember, also sent a message backing the letter saying, “I am happy to endorse this message and appeal. All our adult lives, Norman and I have actively supported a variety of peace groups. We should like to see out country lead by the example of overcoming evil with mercy and by serving the suffering people of Iraq. In this way, we believe that peace is possible.”
The letter was signed by more than 40 prominent figures from Christian and Muslim communities.
Rev John Rackley, the former President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland explained to Christian Today how Kember had gone to Iraq passionately to help the Iraqi people that were suffering. He said, “Speaking from the Christians I know, there was a degree of surprise that Norman Kember was in Iraq and to the ones that knew him he had taken his own commitment of peacemaking to that step, he wanted to actually do something that may help.”
The former BUGB President also told Christian Today what Christians could do in the tense situation: “They can go back to the Bible and go back and see what Jesus said about peacemaking, and how Jesus tried to show us that there are other ways that we can live realistically in this world with non-violent means.“I think that we need to then go to prayer and work with God in prayer for the support and care for those beyond our reach, and that does make a difference.”
Rev Rackley continued, “Christians also must recognise that part of our discipleship is to take up the sort of peacemaking work that Norman had taken up.
