Britons freed in Gaza after Muslims’ intervention

[sonz]

[banana]

[/banana] Following an appeal by the head of the Muslim Council of Britain on Friday, calling on the kidnappers of the British human rights worker and her parents to immediately release them safely, the BBC reported on Saturday that Kate Burton and her parents, who have been kidnapped in Gaza last week, have been released.
"Mrs. Burton, Kate's mother, has been active in the inter-faith movement in the UK and Europe for many years," said Sir Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the council.
"The family's abduction and exposure to danger is absolutely unlawful, totally unjustified and counter-productive," he said.
Kate Burton, 24, and her parents were kidnapped near the Palestinian border with Egypt on Wednesday afternoon.
Also the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) was planning to send an envoy to Palestine to seek the release of the three Britons.
Ziad Aloul, who was supposed to represent the MAB as well as a number of British-based Palestinian-supporting organisations, was planning to travel to Gaza early today, unless the family are released.
The organisation has previously dispatched an envoy, Anas Altikriti, to Iraq, to seek the release of British hostage Norman Kember, who has been seized in Baghdad since last month. But there’s still no news of Mr. Kember.
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[/s]The MAB and the Palestinian groups issued a statement condemning the Burtons’ kidnapping in Gaza. The statement, signed by the Muslim Association of Britain, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum, Palestine Return Centre and The Palestinian Community in Britain, called on the kidnappers of the hostages in Gaza to immediately free them.
"We fear that the kidnapping of Kate Burton - who is a well-known activist in defending the human rights of the Palestinian people - and her parents will tarnish the civilised face of the Palestinian people and weaken the international support to their just cause," the statement said.
"We and all those who support the Palestinian people and their right in freedom and independence reject any kidnapping in principle and reject to use the lives of innocent people in internal negotiations and to achieve internal political or economic gains in any circumstances."
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[/s]Kate, who works for the Palestinian Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, told the BBC that she and her family were treated well by their kidnappers during the two-and-a-half days they were held. She said she could not say a bad word about her captors, who always asked whether they needed anything.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed the release of Kate, Hugh and Win (Helen) Burton, saying that they’re "well and in good spirits".
[s][s][/s][/s]"They are currently with officials in our consulate general in Jerusalem who are providing them with all necessary help and care."
Officials thanked those who had helped secure the family's release.
The Burtons' wider family in the UK said they were "overjoyed" to hear they were safe.
"We thank everyone who has worked so tirelessly towards this moment, especially Kate's colleagues and friends in Gaza who kept all our hopes up throughout this ordeal.
"We do not forget the wider situation in Gaza, but right now we are looking forward to being together as a family very soon," they said.
Also the Muslim Association of Britain said: "We are very relieved and joyful."
They said they hoped Briton Norman Kember and his colleagues, kidnapped in Iraq, to be freed soon.

[Eric H]

Greetings sonz and thank you for printing this story,

I have a great admiration for peace keepers and all those who take a great risk with their lives building interfaith relations. They must have known about the risks involved peace keeping is a dangerous business and more so for women.

It is wonderful that people like the Muslim Council also did huge amounts to gain their freedom.

Palestine and Iraq need more people willing to risk their lives for peace and justice without the use of guns.

In the spirit of working towards greater interfaith relations

Eric