Iraqi Hostage-Takers Would Assist The Peace Process By Releasing Hostages
Bishop Richard Randerson
The Anglican Dean and Assistant Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Richard Randerson, said tonight that the release of Harmeet
Singh Sooden and his Christian Peacemaker colleagues would immeasurably assist the process of peace in Iraq. “Many
Christians and others in this country stand with Harmeet’s mother and family in wanting to see his early release from
captivity by the hostage-takers in Iraq,” said Bishop Randerson.
“Christians also stand with Muslims and people of other faiths in seeing peace achieved by co-operative human effort as
being one of the central implications of their faith. Tragically, acts of violence, whether on a large scale by foreign
invading forces, or on a small scale by taking and executing hostages, only deepens hostility and delays the peace
process.
“I urge the hostage-takers to take the high moral ground by releasing the innocent non-combatants they have captured and
thus take a positive step to build peace. It is the greatest of evils to execute those who work for peace and assist
those in need. It is to be hoped that the hostage-takers will be influenced by the same compassion that motivates those
they have taken hostage.”