Statement condemning the kidnapping of the Italian Volunteers in Iraq

The Coordination Forum of NGOs Working Among the Palestinian Community in Lebanon strongly condemns the kidnapping of the Italian volunteers in Iraq, Simona Torretta and Simona Parri with their Iraqi collegues, Raad Ali Aziz and Mahnaz Bassam.

Torretta and Parri are aid workers and members of the humanitarian NGO UN Ponte Per Baghdad who has been bravely working in Iraq during the USA sanctions, ignoring all restrictions and defying their own government.

We highly refuse and condemn such actions against peace activists who are showing in practice great support to our just causes in Iraq as well as in Palestine, and we call all anti-war and peace activists groups and individuals to stand in solidarity and support with Torretta and Parri and urge their immediate release unharmed.

On behalf of the Palestinian Community in Lebanon we express our deep sympathy and apologize for the families and friends of Torretta and Parri and hope to see them free very soon.

The Coordination Forum of NGOs Working Among the Palestinian Community in Lebanon