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30/11/2005
British hostage described as 'man of peace'
The family of a British man taken hostage in Iraq have today described him as a “man of peace”.
Norman Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, London, was kidnapped in Baghdad on Saturday, along with two Canadians and an American.
A video of Mr Kember, along with the other hostages, was broadcast on Arabic television network al-Jazeera on Tuesday. Their captors, a previously unknown group calling themselves the Sword of Truth Brigade, have alleged that the hostages are spies.
All the hostages are peace activists who belong to the Christian Peacemaker Team.
In a statement, released by the Foreign Office on Wednesday, Mr Kember’s family said: “Norman is a man of peace. He has spent his life promoting peace above any form of aggression – be it by individuals, organisations or those in authority over others such as torture or other human rights abuses.
“Norman’s recent trip to visit the people of Iraq serves to highlight his willingness to listen to people from all backgrounds, beliefs and walks of life and his determination to promote equality amongst all people.
“He has gone to Iraq to listen not convert; to learn from the Iraqi people not to impose values; to promote peace and understanding.”
The statement also described how Norman chose to work as a hospital porter during the 1950s, rather than enter any form of military service and had delivered presentation and talks on peace issues, as well as participated in demonstrations against nuclear weapons.
The family also said that, as a teenager, Norman gave away presents he received to those in need and described how, for the past ten years, Norman and his wife Pat had helped to distribute free food to the homeless in central London every Sunday.
The Foreign Office has condemned the kidnapping.
(KMcA/SP)
Norman Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, London, was kidnapped in Baghdad on Saturday, along with two Canadians and an American.
A video of Mr Kember, along with the other hostages, was broadcast on Arabic television network al-Jazeera on Tuesday. Their captors, a previously unknown group calling themselves the Sword of Truth Brigade, have alleged that the hostages are spies.
All the hostages are peace activists who belong to the Christian Peacemaker Team.
In a statement, released by the Foreign Office on Wednesday, Mr Kember’s family said: “Norman is a man of peace. He has spent his life promoting peace above any form of aggression – be it by individuals, organisations or those in authority over others such as torture or other human rights abuses.
“Norman’s recent trip to visit the people of Iraq serves to highlight his willingness to listen to people from all backgrounds, beliefs and walks of life and his determination to promote equality amongst all people.
“He has gone to Iraq to listen not convert; to learn from the Iraqi people not to impose values; to promote peace and understanding.”
The statement also described how Norman chose to work as a hospital porter during the 1950s, rather than enter any form of military service and had delivered presentation and talks on peace issues, as well as participated in demonstrations against nuclear weapons.
The family also said that, as a teenager, Norman gave away presents he received to those in need and described how, for the past ten years, Norman and his wife Pat had helped to distribute free food to the homeless in central London every Sunday.
The Foreign Office has condemned the kidnapping.
(KMcA/SP)
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The wife of British man Norman Kember, who was kidnapped in Iraq last week, has made an appeal begging his captors to release him. In a video broadcast on Arabic television network al-Jazeera, Pat Kember described her husband as a man who believed in peace and who had only gone to Iraq to help its people.
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The wife of British man Norman Kember, who was kidnapped in Iraq last week, has made an appeal begging his captors to release him. In a video broadcast on Arabic television network al-Jazeera, Pat Kember described her husband as a man who believed in peace and who had only gone to Iraq to help its people.
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07 December 2005
Hostage pleads for troop withdrawal in Iraq
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Hostage pleads for troop withdrawal in Iraq
British hostage Norman Kember has called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw British troops from Iraq in a new video. The video, which was shown on the Internet, showed Mr Kember, 74, in handcuffs and shackles, along with the three other hostages, seized along with him in Baghdad nearly two weeks ago.
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