Friends of Iraq Hostages Take Action

John Stephens and Chuck Fager, two friends of Christian Peacemaker Tom Fox, who is being held hostage by the “Swords of Righteousness,” are trying to raise awareness about Fox’s situation, and to appeal to the hostage-takers to spare the lives of Fox and his three co-workers. Stephens and Fager have authored a petition to the captors and set up a website, FreeTheCaptivesNow.org, to further this effort.

“Detaining or harming these four blameless men will not advance any good cause, and would bring shame to those responsible,” reads their petition, “In the name of God, in the name of Justice, we plead for compassion, mercy, and immediate release of these innocent workers for peace and righteousness.”

In addition to the petition, FreeTheCaptivesNow.org includes information about who Tom Fox is, and what he was doing in Iraq, as well as ideas for what people can do to help the hostages, who are said to be slated to be murdered on Thursday, if the US government fails to release Iraqi prisoners in American custody.

Asked what can really be done to help, Stephens said, “The reaction I have… there’s not much I can do to help Tom at this time, but if I don’t do what I can, I know I will regret it.”

FreeTheCaptivesNow.org encourages people to speak out by signing the petition, writing letters to the editors of newspapers, contacting media outlets like Al Jazeera, and encouraging their churches or civic associations to publicly declare their support for the hostages.

Chuck Fager, who directs Quaker House, in Fayetteville, NC, knew Fox through their participation at the Langley Hill Friends meeting. Their families grew up together.

John Stephens was a coworker of Tom Fox’s for three years at a natural grocery store, where they became good friends. Stephens also knew Fox through their shared faith, as Stephens attended the same Quaker meeting as members of Fox’s family. Stephens remembers Fox for his low key demeanor and his unfailing honesty, “His focus was always serving others, always humbly and often invisibly... I knew that I could always count on him for the truth and to do what is right.”

Their friend’s work for peace, and his willingness to risk his own life to do so, should have a special meaning for Quakers, Stephens said.

“Quakers hold that there is that of God in every person, every human is endowed with a portion of God’s essence, therefore not only have Quakers consistently witnessed against war for over 300 years, but also Quakers historically have put themselves in harm’s way, and made personal sacrifices and endured personal suffering in order to give rise a world in which war does not have to be the answer to conflict.”

For more information, please contact Chuck Fager at qpr@quaker.org and visit FreeTheCaptivesNow.org.