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29/03/2006
Kember speaks of time in captivity
Freed British hostage Norman Kember has given an interview talking about his time held captive in Iraq.
Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, north-west London, told the 'Baptist Times' of his "desperate" experience on being confined. He said: "Not going outside for four months - it's having that time stolen."
Mr Kember also said that his captors had shown the hostages a Christian DVD depicting the life of Jesus in Arabic. He told the newspaper that the captors seemed to want to keep the hostages happy, so that they would not attempt to escape. He also described his physical condition as "moderately fit and well".
However, he admitted that the treatment of the hostages had been varied. He said: "One night our captors took us downstairs, sat us in front of the TV and showed us the life of Jesus on DVD in Arabic. But these are the people who shot Tom Fox in the head. People are very complex."
American born Tom Fox, 54, two Canadian citizens James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and 74-year-old Briton Norman Kember, were captured in Baghdad last November - all were working for Christian Peacemaker teams.
The body of Tom Fox had been found in Baghdad two weeks prior to the release of the the other hostages. He had been tortured and shot dead.
The four men had been kidnapped by a previously unknown group calling themselves the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. The group had threatened to kill the men unless all Iraqi prisoners were released.
Mr Kember and the two Canadian hostages were freed last week, following an operation led by British forces.
In the interview, Mr Kember praised the SAS team which found the hostages. He said that he was "very grateful" to them and was "full of praise" for them. He also described the diplomatic service as "super".
Mr Kember also thanked the Muslim community for their support in the interview.
(KMcA/SP)
Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, north-west London, told the 'Baptist Times' of his "desperate" experience on being confined. He said: "Not going outside for four months - it's having that time stolen."
Mr Kember also said that his captors had shown the hostages a Christian DVD depicting the life of Jesus in Arabic. He told the newspaper that the captors seemed to want to keep the hostages happy, so that they would not attempt to escape. He also described his physical condition as "moderately fit and well".
However, he admitted that the treatment of the hostages had been varied. He said: "One night our captors took us downstairs, sat us in front of the TV and showed us the life of Jesus on DVD in Arabic. But these are the people who shot Tom Fox in the head. People are very complex."
American born Tom Fox, 54, two Canadian citizens James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and 74-year-old Briton Norman Kember, were captured in Baghdad last November - all were working for Christian Peacemaker teams.
The body of Tom Fox had been found in Baghdad two weeks prior to the release of the the other hostages. He had been tortured and shot dead.
The four men had been kidnapped by a previously unknown group calling themselves the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. The group had threatened to kill the men unless all Iraqi prisoners were released.
Mr Kember and the two Canadian hostages were freed last week, following an operation led by British forces.
In the interview, Mr Kember praised the SAS team which found the hostages. He said that he was "very grateful" to them and was "full of praise" for them. He also described the diplomatic service as "super".
Mr Kember also thanked the Muslim community for their support in the interview.
(KMcA/SP)
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24 March 2006
Norman Kember to return to UK
The wife of British hostage Norman Kember, who is reported to be on his way back to the UK, has spoken of her joy at the release of her husband after four months of being held captive in Iraq. Pat Kember told a radio station in New Zealand that she was "thrilled" that her peace activist husband had been freed, along with two Canadian colleagues.
Norman Kember to return to UK
The wife of British hostage Norman Kember, who is reported to be on his way back to the UK, has spoken of her joy at the release of her husband after four months of being held captive in Iraq. Pat Kember told a radio station in New Zealand that she was "thrilled" that her peace activist husband had been freed, along with two Canadian colleagues.
23 March 2006
Norman Kember freed in Iraq
British hostage Norman Kember has been freed in Iraq following an operation by multi-national forces. Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from northwest London, was kidnapped along with two Canadian citizens and an American in Baghdad last November. All four men were working for the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
Norman Kember freed in Iraq
British hostage Norman Kember has been freed in Iraq following an operation by multi-national forces. Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from northwest London, was kidnapped along with two Canadian citizens and an American in Baghdad last November. All four men were working for the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
09 December 2005
Fears grow as hostage deadline looms
There have been fresh calls for the release of four peace activists, including Briton Norman Kember, being held hostage in Iraq. Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at the Guantanamo Bay centre, has urged the kidnappers to release the hostages.
Fears grow as hostage deadline looms
There have been fresh calls for the release of four peace activists, including Briton Norman Kember, being held hostage in Iraq. Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at the Guantanamo Bay centre, has urged the kidnappers to release the hostages.
08 December 2005
Foreign Secretary calls for Iraq hostage release
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has repeated calls for the release of four peace activists in Iraq, as their kidnappers announced that the deadline for their execution had been extended.
Foreign Secretary calls for Iraq hostage release
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has repeated calls for the release of four peace activists in Iraq, as their kidnappers announced that the deadline for their execution had been extended.
07 December 2005
Hostage pleads for troop withdrawal in Iraq
British hostage Norman Kember has called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw British troops from Iraq in a new video. The video, which was shown on the Internet, showed Mr Kember, 74, in handcuffs and shackles, along with the three other hostages, seized along with him in Baghdad nearly two weeks ago.
Hostage pleads for troop withdrawal in Iraq
British hostage Norman Kember has called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw British troops from Iraq in a new video. The video, which was shown on the Internet, showed Mr Kember, 74, in handcuffs and shackles, along with the three other hostages, seized along with him in Baghdad nearly two weeks ago.
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