Federation of Muslim Scholars renounces killing of hostages

Salam/Peace:

Cairo, Sha'aban 13/Sep 27/IINA – The Federation of Muslim Scholars has renounced the taking of civilian hostages because of their different religions, and expressed the view that this is a kind of infringement that is forbidden in Islam.

The Federation called upon the hostage-takers in Iraq to immediately release the hostages they have taken, and urged the resistance in that country not to emulate the what the occupation forces are doing in pursuing uncivilized methods. The Federation said that the Muslims who do this have crossed the bounds of the Shari'a.

The statement made it clear that the Federation renounces the kidnapping of hostages, such as the two Italian women who were working for a humanitarian organization, though it condemns the stance of the Italian Government that is aligned to the US occupation forces. The two Italian girls, Simona Bari and Simona Turia, were kidnapped on September 7 this year.

The Federation's statement also condemned the taking hostage of school children that took place in a school in Besilan, North Osetia, southern Russia, which resulted in the death of 399, of whom 171 were children, in addition to the kidnappers themselves. The scholars said that though they believed in the righteousness of the Chechen cause, they still condemned the taking of child hostages and submitting them to such atrocious acts, adding that the Chechen people have a right to self-determination.

The Federation of Muslim Scholars was formed in London in July this year, and comprises both Sunni and Shi'a scholars and intellectuals, the purpose being to establish it as an authority to be referred to in matters of Fiqh and Islamic culture. Its president is Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi.

HI/OB/IINA

Source: International Islamic News Agency (www.islamicnews.org)

Muslim, Christian leaders appeal for UK hostage release

Salam/Peace:

LIVERPOOL, England (CNN) -- Muslim and Christian religious leaders in the hometown of a British hostage facing death in Iraq have appealed for his captors to free him.

"In the name of God, the merciful one, we as Muslim and Christian leaders in Liverpool appeal to you as believers to have mercy on Kenneth Bigley," said Akbar Ali, the chairman of Liverpool Mosque and Islamic Institute.

Joining Ali at the news conference on Thursday was James Jones, Liverpool's Anglican Bishop.

"We're appealing to them on the grounds of their own faith and their own faith in the God of mercy to be merciful, to have compassion in this situation and to release Mr. Bigley," Jones said.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/09/23/britain.vigil.intl/index.html

Muslim girl, 11, appeals for release of UK Hostage

Salam/Peace:

By Gideon Long
LONDON (Reuters) - An 11-year-old Iraqi girl who lost a leg and 17 members of her family during last year's war urged kidnappers on Saturday to release a British hostage they have been holding for nine days under threat of death.

Zeynab Hamid Taresh, who is in Britain to have an artificial leg fitted, said the plight of 62-year-old Kenneth Bigley reminded her of seeing kidnappers seize two of her school friends on the streets of Iraq's second city Basra.

"I want them to release him so he can return to his family, just like I want my friends to be able to return to their families," she told reporters.

Taresh survived a U.S.-British bombing raid in March 2003 which killed her mother, two brothers and another 14 members of her extended family. She was badly injured and had her right leg amputated.

[...]

Taresh agreed and was due to speak to Arabic television station Al Jazeera later on Saturday in the hope that the kidnappers would be watching, Gordon said. The girl, who walks with a distinct limp and is still getting used to her new limb, said the hostage crisis had rekindled memories of seeing her own friends abducted.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6332588

Muslim singer, the former Cat Stevens, urges Iraqi group to free Briton

Salam/Peace:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Yusuf Islam, the singer and song-writer formerly known as Cat Stevens, has urged Islamic militants in Iraq to free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, seized 10 days ago and threatened with death.

"As a member of the Muslim Council I request you, in the name of Allah, the Rahman, to release the British citizen, Ken Bigley for the good name of our religion and according to the sayings of Allah in the glorious Qur'an," Islam said in a letter sent to the media by the British embassy in Baghdad on Sunday.

[...]

The plea by Islam, known for the hit songs "Moonshadow", "Peace Train" and "The First Cut is the Deepest", came as a delegation of the Muslim Council of Britain was in Iraq pressing for the release of Bigley.

The delegation from Britain's biggest Muslim group met with Iraq's President Ghazi Yawar on Sunday.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6333694