As freed hostage Norman Kember continues to celebrate his first few days of freedom on home soil, a Scottish Christian school teacher has expressed her desire to return to Iraq to continue with peace work.
"I feel called by God to do this work," said Jan Benvie. "It sounds quite simplistic but it is just the way I can explain it."The government did not openly criticise Mr Kember for conducting his peace work in Iraq but did warn against all travel to the country under the present circumstances.
Ms Benvie, a primary teacher from Inverkeithing and a fellow member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams with Kember, also came out to defend CPT, saying she believed they had a right to continue their work in the country.
“In general we allow adults to make their own decisions about their lives," she said. "Despite the dangers I believe, as Christian Peacemaker Teams believe, that it is vitally important that we go and try to make peace."
Negotiator and former Beirut hostage, Terry Waite, came out to express his concern over the tactics of the CPT workers, warning that any westerner in Iraq was exposed to “very grave danger”.I feel called by God to do this work. It sounds quite simplistic but it is just the way I can explain it.
Jan Benvie, CPT reservist
“Many people say that's a risk we understand and are willing to take - people have to take their own decision and make their own responsible decision about that," he said.
"The only problem is that as you take that stance, you do involve other people, and in your situation that might be a problem."
