Ex-hostages in Iraq opt for forgiveness
Iraqi suspects await trial, but the Christian Peacemaker Teams say they oppose harsh punishments.Three pacifists who were held hostage for 118 days in Iraq and were released only after a fourth colleague was murdered, publicly forgave their captors Friday. At a press conference in London, the members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) said they were reluctant to testify against four alleged captors in Iraqi custody because of the possibility that they will face harsh punishment, especially the death penalty.
Donald Woods wrote an article for the Melbourne Age [ Jan 4,2007] entitled ‘It’s time to forgive and forget if Iraq is to rebuild and prosper’. He writes as forgiveness the way to overcome current divisions and concludes: “if it would help to stabilise the situation in Iraq, I would have no problem if my former captors were also forgiven”.
Now we pray for some Iraqi’s to follow suit.