Initiated by Mennonites, Brethren, and Quakers, Christian Peacemaker Teams [5]' ministry of Biblically-based and spiritually-centered peacemaking emphasizes creative public witness, nonviolent direct action, and protection of human rights. Tom Fox [6], a CPT volunteer in Iraq, was abducted with three other team members in Baghdad on November 26, 2005. His body was found on March 9, 2006. The other three team members were freed on March 23, 2006.
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March 10, 2006. In grief we tremble before God who wraps us with compassion. The death of our beloved colleague and friend pierces us with pain. Tom Fox's body was found in Baghdad yesterday.
We mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone.
In response to Tom's passing, we ask that everyone set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done. In Tom's own words: "We reject violence to punish anyone. We ask that there be no retaliation on relatives or property. We forgive those who consider us their enemies. We hope that in loving both friends and enemies and by intervening nonviolently to aid those who are systematically oppressed, we can contribute in some small way to transforming this volatile situation."
Even as we grieve the loss of our beloved colleague, we stand in the light of his strong witness to the power of love and the courage of nonviolence. That light reveals the way out of fear and grief and war.
Through these days of crisis, Christian Peacemaker Teams has been surrounded and upheld by a great outpouring of compassion. At the forefront of that support are strong and courageous actions from Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world for which we are profoundly grateful. Their graciousness inspires us to continue working for the day when Christians speak up as boldly for the human rights of thousands of Iraqis still detained illegally by the US and UK.
Such an outpouring of action for justice and peace would be a fitting memorial for Tom. Let us all join our voices on behalf of those who continue to suffer under occupation, whose loved ones have been killed or are missing. In so doing, we may hasten the day when both those who are wrongly detained and those who bear arms will return safely to their homes. In such a peace we will find solace for our grief.
Tom Fox Commemorated in Baghdad
Doug Pritchard is Co-Director of Christian Peacemaker Teams.
The Christian Peacemaker Team in Baghdad has erected traditional Iraqi funeral banners at the site where Tom Fox's body was found. These banners are all too common in Iraq today. After careful consultation with Iraqis, they have painted the following words on the large black banners, in Arabic:
"In memory of Tom Fox in this place. Christian Peacemaker Teams declares, 'We are for God and we are from God.' To those who held him we declare God has forgiven you."
The first sentence notes the place of his body. The second sentence is a traditional condolence from the Koran. The third sentence echoes of Jesus' cry from the cross. It is also in keeping with the local understanding that people do not forgive, only God can forgive.
A memorial service was held for Tom at a local church in Baghdad on 12 March. Fifty Christian and Muslim friends of Tom's attended.
After Tom's death, an Iraqi co-worker asked CPT's Iraq team, "So, are you staying?" The team replied that, after full resolution of the current hostage crisis, they would need to discern what to do next. They would need to ask Iraqi advisors and friends if they felt that there was work for them to do. They would need to ask if there were Iraqis willing to work with us. They would need to ask within CPT if there were workers willing to come. The Iraqi responded, "Yes, there is work for you to do here. Yes, there are people to work with you here. Are you staying?"