CPTnet
9 December 2005
HEBRON REFLECTION: With a lot of help from our friends
Part of our experience here during this week when four of our teammates in
Iraq are missing has been a tremendous outpouring of support from
Palestinians around us. Initially, they offered many expressions of
sympathy and support and told us that these kidnappings are against the
teachings of Islam. The support included offers by some to go as our
emissaries to Iraq if that would help.
Early last week CPTers tried to stay off-camera as we looked for statements
by Arabic-speakers of support for CPT, clarification about the work of CPT,
and calls for the release of our friends. In one day, our long-time friend
Hisham Sharabati drafted a statement of support for the missing CPTers and
had eight political groups in Hebron sign it. (Sharabati was CPT's earliest
friend in Hebron and has been instrumental in guiding the work of the team.)
The statement opens with a verse from the Qur'an: "O ye who believe! If a
wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm
people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye
have done."-The Holy Qur'an, 49:6
The statement was released at a press conference 30 November. A university
professor who is also sheikh at a local mosque opened the conference.
Several local community leaders then spoke into the TV cameras and praised
the work of CPT. The headmistress at a local school spoke, as did a barber
whose home has a demolition order. When we thanked people afterwards, their
uniform response was, "No, don't thank us, we have to do this; it is our
duty."
The Hebron journalists, photographers and writers, responded readily to our
initial requests for them to interview people who know us. We've tried to
give them useful material, and they have pitched multiple stories about CPT
to their bosses. Time after time, as they put away the notepad and camera,
they tell us they hope this helps, and that they are praying for the release
of the four CPTers.
On 5 December in Ramallah, ISM (International Solidarity Movement) hosted a
press conference calling for the release of the CPTers. They printed up
large banners with photos of Tom, Jim, Harmeet and Norman. On 6 December
was a demonstration in Hebron organized by the Palestinian Prisoners Society
-- people who know what it's like to be a captive.
Every evening friends call to tell us what they are seeing on the news. On
several evenings, respected Islamic leaders calling for the release of the
four CPTers appeared. The ripples keep spreading. May they wash the love
and generosity from all our friends here, to where our four CPT friends are
now staying in Baghdad.
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