Jeremy Scahill sends along the following:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Each of the four C.P.T. members being held in Iraq has dedicated his
\nlife to resisting the darkness and misery of war and occupation.
\nConvinced that it is not enough to oppose the war from the safety of
\ntheir homes, they made the difficult decision to go to Iraq, knowing
\nthat the climate of mistrust created by foreign occupation meant that
\nthey could be mistaken for spies or missionaries. They went there with
\na simple purpose: to bear witness to injustice and to embody a
\ndifferent kind of relationship between cultures and faiths. Members of
\nC.P.T. willingly undertook the risks of living among Iraqis, in a
\ncommon neighborhood outside of the infamous Green Zone. They sought no
\nprotection from weapons or armed guards, trusting in, and benefiting
\nfrom, the goodwill of the Iraqi people. Acts of kindness and
\nhospitality from Iraqis were innumerable and ensured the C.P.T.
\nmembers’ safety and wellbeing. We believe that spirit will prevail in
\nthe current situation.<\/p>\n
We appeal to those holding these activists to release them unharmed so
\nthat they may continue their vital work as witnesses and peacemakers.<\/p>\n
Signed,**<\/p>\n
Arundhati Roy, author, The God of Small Things<\/p>\n
Tariq Ali, author, Bush in Babylon<\/p>\n
Denis Halliday, former U.N. Assistant Secretary General and Head of
\nthe U.N. Humanitarian Program in Iraq (1997-1998)<\/p>\n
Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan<\/p>\n
Noam Chomsky, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology<\/p>\n
Haifa Zangana, Iraqi novelist<\/p>\n
Kamil Mahdi, Iraqi economist and anti-occupation activist. Lecturer,
\nUniversity of Exeter<\/p>\n
Mahmood Mamdani, “Herbert Lehman Professor of Government,” Columbia University<\/p>\n
Rashid Khalidi, “Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies,” Middle East
\nInstitute, Columbia University<\/p>\n
Cindy and Craig Corrie, parents of Rachel Corrie, killed by Israeli military<\/p>\n
Hasan Abu Nimah, Permanent Representative of Jordan at the United
\nNations (1995-2000)<\/p>\n
Ralph Nader, former independent presidential candidate<\/p>\n
James Abourezk, former US Senator<\/p>\n
Howard Zinn, historian<\/p>\n
Naseer Aruri, Professor (Emeritus) University of Massachusetts Dartmouth<\/p>\n
Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence\/Nobel Peace Prize Nominee<\/p>\n
Naomi Klein, author\/journalist<\/p>\n
Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights<\/p>\n
Rev. Daniel Berrigan, poet<\/p>\n
Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, National Coordinator, Clergy and Laity
\nConcerned about Iraq<\/p>\n
Jeremy Scahill, independent journalist<\/p>\n
Mazin Qumsiyeh, author, Sharing the Land Of Canaan, board member US
\nCampaign to End the Occupation<\/p>\n
Milan Rai, author, War Plan Iraq: Ten Reasons Against War on Iraq<\/p>\n
Sam Husseini, writer<\/p>\n
Dahr Jamail, independent journalist<\/p>\n
Ali Abunimah, Co-founder, Electronic Iraq<\/p>\n
Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, United for Peace and Justice<\/p>\n
Eve Ensler, author<\/p>\n
Jennifer Harbury, Director, Stop Torture Permanently Campaign<\/p>\n
Omar Diop, Pr\u00e9sident de la Coalition S\u00e9n\u00e9galaise des D\u00e9fenseurs des
\nDroits humains<\/p>\n
Anthony Arnove, author, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal<\/p>\n
Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange<\/p>\n
G. Simon Harak, War Resisters League<\/p>\n
Michael Albert, ZNet<\/p>\n
Dave McReynolds, former Chair, War Resisters International<\/p>\n
Bishop Gabino Zavala, President, Pax Christi USA<\/p>\n