DC-AREA MUSLIMS TO CALL FOR RELEASE OF VA MAN HELD HOSTAGE IN IRAQ

Interfaith groups to urge immediate release of local Christian peace activist

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/3/2005) - On Sunday, December 4 , local and national Muslim and Christian leaders will hold a news conference in Washington, D.C., to call for the immediate release of a local peace activist taken hostage recently in Iraq.

WHAT : Interfaith News Conference Calling for Release of Virginian Held Hostage in Iraq

The Muslim and Christian leaders will urge the kidnappers to release Tom Fox , 54, of Clear Brook, Va., and all other hostages in Iraq. We pray and ask for the safe return of Tom and all the Hostages taken in Iraq.

Tom has been active in Virginia's Quaker community(Langley Hill Friends Meeting) and is one of four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) kidnapped last Saturday by a group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. The kidnappers have threatened to kill the hostages unless all prisoners in U.S. and Iraqi detention centers are released.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is a violence-reduction initiative with roots in the Historic Peace Churches (Mennonites, Brethren, Quakers) with participation from a broad range of Christian denominations and groups. CPT offers an organized, nonviolent alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter‑group conflict. CPT provides organizational support to persons committed to faith‑based nonviolent alternatives in situations where lethal conflict is an immediate reality or is supported by public policy.

All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) and Langley Hill Friends Meeting have a very close friendship. They meet regularly for Interfaith meetings and community service projects. The Langley Hill Friends Meeting Women’s group offered to help Muslim Women wearing scarves since they were targets of Hate Crimes. Langley Hill Friends Meeting sent cards and flowers after ADAMS was vandalized. Langley Hill Friends Meeting coordinated an overnight vigil on 9/11/2004 to keep ADAMS safe from the yearly vandalism against ADAMS Mosque that happened on 9/12/2001, 9/11/2002, ad 9/11/2003. ADAMS truly appreciates the friendship and efforts of Langley Hill Friends Meeting.

The Sunday news conference is being co-sponsored by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) and Langley Hill Friends Meeting in McLean, Va., of which Fox is a member.

WHEN : Sunday, December 4, 12:30 p.m.

WHERE : National Headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), 453 New Jersey Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C.

All Dulles Area Muslim Society(ADAMS) is one of the largest Muslim communities/mosques in the DC Metro Area and in the United States. ADAMS is a non profit 501c(3) Organization. ADAMS serves over 5000 families and has 7 branches(Sterling/Herndon, Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Reston, Leesburg, Ashburn, and South Riding) in Northern Virginia. ADAMS Center is governed by a 13-member democratically elected board of trustees comprising of men and women. ADAMS engages in regular interfaith, government relations, social services, and community service. ADAMS has one of the largest Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout programs in the DC Metro area.