[CPT-UK] Press release: Vigils mark 100 days' captivity in Iraq

[Tim Nafziger]

Dear CPT UK friends,

Please forward this announcement on to others who may be interested. Please
join us on Sunday afternoon from 3-4 pm in Trafalgar Square or check out *
www.for.org.uk/bpf* to see if there are vigils near you.

Thanks,
Tim

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 February 2006

*Vigils mark 100 days' captivity in Iraq*

Vigils will be held around the country on 4/5 March to mark 100 days since
British hostage Norman Kember disappeared in Iraq with three other members
of a Christian Peacemakers team. Hundreds of paper doves will be a symbol of
renewed hope for those at an inter faith gathering of friends and supporters
from 3pm on Sunday in Trafalgar Square.

The kidnappers, who call themselves 'The Swords of Righteousness Brigades,'
set several deadlines in December for the U.S. to release its prisoners, but
the deadlines passed without further word. A second video was screened on
Aljazeera satellite channel on 28 January, showing Norman Kember, Tom Fox,
Harmeet Singh Sooden and James Loney, who were working in Iraq with
Christian Peacemaker Teams.

The chain of vigils in many towns and cities was the idea of the Baptist
Peace Fellowship. Details can be found at at *www.for.org.uk/bpf* Everyone
is welcome

Norman Kember has been involved both in the Baptist Peace Fellowship and in
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR), an international network of religious
pacifists and with Pax Christi. His wife, Pat Kember said this week: 'Norman
has always been involved in peace-making activities ever since he chose to
do hospital work instead of national service. He went with a peace team to
support those who were suffering in Iraq. On 26 November he and Tom, James
and Harmeet were taken as hostages. Two videos have been shown and two
dead-lines have passed.'

She said the time since the men disappeared had been 'traumatic' and added
'but we have been wonderfully supported by our friends, by church people of
all denominations, by people of other faiths, including Muslims and by
hundreds of well-wishers worldwide.  I'd like to thank everyone who is
taking the time and trouble to pray and to send cards, letters and flowers.'

An Open Letter written in support of the missing men and signed by many
Muslims and Christians said: 'We long for true peace to be restored to the
people of Iraq and we ask our government to do all it can to secure this
peace. This must include:

- clear condemnation of detention without charge and the abuse of prisoners
- accountability on the part of all UK military personnel for their
treatment of prisoners and of the Iraqi people
- work with the Iraqi authorities to ensure that the highest United Nations
human rights standards of treatment and due process for detainees are met.'

*ends*

*Media contacts: *
Pat Gaffney 020 8203 4884 or 0780 821 8822
Chris Cole 01865 748796 or 07960 811437
Anne van Staveren 020 7654 7220 or 07939 139 881

*Notes to editors*
*1.      For updates see: See **www.paxchristi.org.uk**, or  **
www.for.org.uk**  or **www.for.org.uk/bpf** and  **www.ctbi.org.uk***
*Every Wednesday 6pm to 7pm Trafalgar Square, faith groups stand in silent
vigil to remember the hostages. Regular vigils are held around the country.
*

*2.      Christian Peacemaker Teams is a violence reduction program. Teams
of trained peacemakers work in areas of lethal conflict around the world. In
Iraq, CPT has been working for the human rights of detainees since March
2004.  In January 2004 CPT published a detailed report of 72 case-studies
regarding treatment of detainees and their families. See **www.cpt.org** *
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