Iraq Hostages’ Families in Renewed Calls for their Safe Return

The families of the four Christian humanitarian workers abducted in Iraq last month have re-emphasised their appeals for the release of the hostages.

|TOP|The four Christians included British worker Norman Kember, as well as American Tom Fox, and Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Sooden. All of whom were working for the Christian Peacemakers Team when they were kidnapped on Nov. 26th.

A statement posted on Friday on the British Foreign Office website said, “A month has passed since our loved ones -- Norman, James, Harmeet and Tom -- were kidnapped in Iraq.

“Many clerics and religious figures from the Arab and Muslim world have spoken over the past weeks of the good work they were doing in Iraq and what their organization has done in Palestine, and they have called for their release.

“We appeal to you to help us ensure the safe return of our relatives.”

Meanwhile, in London an interfaith religious gathering has continued its regular prayer vigil in Trafalgar Square in London this week. A friend of Dr Kember, Bruce Kent – a former Catholic priest and former general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, spoke at the event, which was called by Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The prayer vigil lasted for one hour and operated as a silent prayer for the four missing hostages.