UNION OF THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITIES OF ITALY:

FREE THEM !

“Free them!”. This is the Appeal addressed by UCOII, the Union of Islamic Communities and Organizations in Italy, to the kidnappers, as soon as they heard of the capture of Simona Pari and Simona Torretta.

“Whoever you may be, and whatever may be the motivations that induced to commit this deed, release Simona Pari and Simona Torretta immediately and unconditionally. Do not allow suffering to be added to suffering, bear witness to the debt of gratitude that is due to those who shared the suffering of the Iraqis during the years of the sanctions, who stayed in the country while bombs were raining down, who refused to abandon the country even during these last, horrible months of confusion and violence,” their Appeal continues.

“Our Islamic Community in Italy,” concludes UCOII, “will accept from you no other solution than the speedy release of Simona Pari and Simona Torretta and their Iraqi co-workers. In the name of the God of mercy and peace, if there is still a grain of faith in you, in the name of the solidarity that these women gave to those who needed it most, in the name of the justice between all God’s children which our religion and heritage demand of us all.”

7 September 2004.