ISLAMIC CONGRESS SENDING ENVOY TO IRAQ

Submitted by Mark-Alan Whittle, SAInc. (Canada), Dec 6, 2005 at 11:20

The Canadian Islamic Congress is sending an envoy a Montreal-based CIC member who is leaving for Iraq today in hopes of facilitating the release of four Christian Peacemaker Teams workers held hostage there since late last week.

Ehab Lotayef is a Canadian of Egyptian origin who has a degree in Electrical Engineering and works for McGill University in Montreal. He is a respected longtime community activist.

This is not Mr. Lotayef's first trip to Iraq. During his young student days, he lived in Iraq for two years. In 2003, a few months after the American-led invasion, he returned as an activist with the Iraq Solidarity Project, a Montreal-based grassroots organization, to report on the situation and show solidarity with the people of Iraq.

"I feel it is my and our responsibility to do what we can to help in the release of those who have dedicated their lives to justice and freedom," he said, when asked about the motivation behind his admittedly risky trip.

CIC national vice-president Wahida Valiante said, "I agree with Ehab Lotayef that it is our moral responsibility to offer whatever resources and effort we can in order to secure the release of these hostages, who risked their own welfare in order to bring comfort to oppressed and occupied people... We pray for his safe return and for the quick release and return of the four CPT hostages."


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