December 2 , 2005 Peace Workers Abducted in Iraq A Statement by the Muslim Peace Fellowship In the Name of Allah, All-Compassionate, Most Merciful The Muslim Peace Fellowship / Ansar as-Salam is greatly distressed by the misunderstanding that has led members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams working in Iraq to be wrongly identified as agents of any government. While there are indeed some Christian groups who, sadly, have supported the current occupation, as the Noble Qur’an tells us of the People of the Book, “they are not all the same.” And the Christian Peacemaker Teams, like the Christians of the most ancient times, have proved themselves to be independent of any government and opposed to tyranny and empire in any form. We have tested them in this and found their claim to be true. When we have visited with Christian Peacemaker Teams efforts in al-Khalil, we have found their workers humble, courageous, and devoted to service. They were not interested in converting others to Christianity, but in living in accordance with what Prophet Jesus taught (peace be upon him), insofar as they understood it.   They were warmly received by their neighbors and a thorn in the side of the Israeli occupation government. We have found their behavior to be consistent in many other encounters in other places. As Muslims committed to the work of justice we would extend our protection over them without hesitation. We pray that Allah, exalted and glorious, will lead those who are currently holding four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams to the same conclusion—for it is the true conclusion. May Allah All-Compassionate, Most Merciful, guide us all in the straight path of truth. Muslim Peace Fellowship/Ansar as-Salam mpf@MPFweb.org ©2004 Fellowship of Reconciliation