The Arab and Muslim Communities of Canada Call for the Immediate Release of Hostages in Iraq

Ottawa , December 9, 2005 – The Arab and Muslim communities of Canada urge the group who holds the members of the Canadian Peace Team (CPT) to release them immediately. We urge you to recognize that CPT is a group made up of humanitarians who have been working to expose the violence and injustice being committed by the occupation troops against Iraq and the Iraqi people.

For many years CPT has also worked to defend the lives of Palestinians from the Israeli occupation. The members of CPT, well known to Canadian Arabs and Muslims, have paid with blood and personal sacrifice to stay in solidarity with both Palestinians and Iraqis over the last ten years.

Most recently CPT members from Baghdad went on a tour of Canadian and American cities exposing what the majority of media in the West is not; the human suffering and tragedy in Iraq. Their work has contributed to Canada's rejection of engaging in the war. They were also key to providing information to the people of Canada which led to large demonstrations in all Canadian cities to prevent our participation in the war.

The Arab and Muslim communities along with all Canadians have been receiving information from CPT teams in Palestinian villages where the Israeli occupation is terrorizing and uprooting villages, trees, and people. The CPT is also taking action by standing in front of tanks and bulldozers to protect Palestinians.

We urge you to not to treat those who trusted in the hospitality of Iraqis with the same kind of violence they were trying to stop. We urge you to not undermine the work and service of these humanitarians by violating Islamic codes, and Arab and Muslim generosity and hospitality. We urge you to immediately release the hostages.

Canadians in general have refused to engage in this war. Canadians have always been friends of the Arabs and Muslims. Do not let such a tragedy destroy the respect and support they have given Iraq.

We hope that you will respect our request and release the hostages immediately.

• The National Council on Canada - Arab Relations
• The Canadian Arab Federation
• Muslim Council of Calgary
• Canadian Friends of Sabeel
• Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation
• Toronto International Conference on Morally Responsible Investment to end the Israeli Occupation
• Adala-Canadian Arab Justice Committee
• The Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities
• Azim Jamal, Corporate Sufi & Amazon # 1 best-selling co-author of The Power of Giving
• Akbar Manoussi, Professor of Business and Management Eric Sprott
• Canadian Arab Professionals and Business Club
• El-Hidaya Association; Montreal , Quebec
• Muslim Canadian Congress
• The Syrian Canadian Club of Ottawa
• Association of London Muslims
• Ahlul Bayt Centre
• Canaanite Canadian Knowledge Centre
• Canada Palestine Association
• Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)
• Hamilton Council of Canadian Arabs (HCCA)
• Canadian Palestinian Centre for Capital Region
• Niagara Palestinian Association
• Niagara Coalition for Peace
• Women Engaging in Bridge Building Canada
• Syrian Arab Association of Canada
• Canadian Arab Professionals and Community Associations
• Dr Hani Faris; Professor of Political Science-University of British Columbia
• Rachad Antonius ; Professeur Département de sociologie-Université du Québec à Montréal
• Atif Kubursi; Professor of Economics at McMaster University
• Reem Bahdi; Professor of Law, Windsor University

Contact:

Annik Lussier, NCCAR media relations coordinator, (613) 238-3795, lussier@nccar.ca

Mohamed Boudjenane, CAF executive director, (416) 493-8635 Ext. 23, ed@caf.ca