CPTnet
20 December 2005
CANADA/IRAQ: Canadian churches call for release of CPTers, Iraqi detainees
and end to violence
In the last week, KAIROS (The Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiative) and
the United Church of Canada have sent letters to Canadian Prime Minister
Paul Martin expressing their concern for CPTers currently missing in Iraq
asking him to use diplomatic means to press the Multinational forces to
withdraw from Iraq. Excerpts from their letters follow.
>From KAIROS (comprising Anglican Church of Canada, Canadian Catholic
Organization for Development and Peace, Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Canadian Religious Conference, Christian Reformed Church in North
America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Mennonite Central
Committee of Canada, Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Primate's World
Relief and Development Fund, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and
United Church of Canada):
Dear Prime Minister:
In these past few weeks, Christians in Canada and around the world unite
with our Muslim sisters and brothers, and people of all faiths, to call
for the release of four Christian Peacemakers. At the same time we renew
our call for an end to all of the violence in Iraq.
*
KAIROS deeply appreciates your efforts to save the lives of Christian
Peacemaker Team (CPT) members Jim Loney, Harmeet Singh Sooden, Tom Fox,
And Norman Kember. In honour of their work, we ask you also, Prime
Minister, to engage our government in working harder than ever to end the
war in Iraq and promote real and lasting security in the region.
Much of Iraq's history has been characterized by colonialism and foreign
intervention based on interests related to Iraq's vast oil wealth. The
invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the current occupation of Iraq, recall this
history for many people in the Middle East.
Countless Iraqi civilians die every day. The four CPT members went to Iraq
in solidarity with the Iraqi people. They present a different face of
foreigners, one that is intent on building a new relationship between
Muslims and Christians, Arabs and Westerners. This relationship is based
on mutual respect, an end to foreign intervention and occupation, and
self-determination for the Iraqi people.
KAIROS asks our government to promote peace in Iraq by calling for an end
to the U.S. led occupation as well as an immediate end to illegal
detention and torture of prisoners.
*
Let Canada bring the Christmas spirit of renewed hope to the building of a
new relationship among Muslim and Christian, Arab and Westerner, one
founded first and foremost on justice.
KAIROS and its members pray for the release of Christian Peacemakers, For
the work and safety of all peace makers, and the release of the Iraqi
People from suffering and injustice. We also pray for our politicians who
must lead in these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Fr. Paul Hansen
Chair, Board of Directors
>From the United Church of Canada
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Dear Prime Minister Martin:
In this Christmas season, we are aware that we are at a moment in history
where beliefs and action can bring about a faithful partnership between
Muslim and Christian, Arab and Westerner.
Four men came to Iraq with Christian Peacemaker Teams to work for human
rights. Unfortunately, they were kidnapped. Like many Christians around
the world, we have offered our prayers for their safe release. Religious
and political leaders from the international Muslim community have also
sincerely and without hesitation raised their voices in defence of our
friends. It is altogether fitting that the United Church, as a Christian
community in the West, reflect the generous act of our Muslim brothers and
sisters by speaking boldly on behalf of the human rights of Iraqis.
For far too long, thousands of Iraqis have been illegally detained,
abused, and tortured. This has caused suffering for them as well as for
their families. Illegal detention and systematic abuse and torture of
those detained must stop.
We know that disregard for the human rights of detainees is only one
aspect of the widespread disregard for Iraqi human rights* Peace and
justice will only come to Iraq through a deep and abiding respect for the
human rights of Iraqis by both the U.S. and Iraqi governments.
We believe the occupation is the underlying source for this disregard of
human rights. The occupation must end.
In this season of peace, we implore the Government of Canada and the
international community to call for the full withdrawal of coalition
forces from Iraq, and the end of construction and placement of foreign
military bases on Iraqi territory.
*
We offer our prayers and our hope for the safe release of all those whose
lives are threatened and who are held unjustly, for the four members of
the Christian Peacemaker Teams, and for thousands of Iraqi citizens.
The full text of the United Church letter is available at
http://www.united-church.ca/news/2005/1221.shtm
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Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in
organized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trained,
peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reduction
initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethren
and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range of
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