By Stacy A. Anderson, Special to BET.com
http://www.bet.com/News/jessehostage.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic
Posted Feb. 1, 2005 — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, in a televised plea Tuesday, urged the Iraqi captors of American contractor Roy Hallums to not use their hostage “as a trophy.”
Jackson, who has a record of successes in freeing hostages, said that as a religious leader he might be able to appeal to the kidnappers in ways that the Bush administration cannot. “Religious leaders can take a different approach…without entangling government in the process,” Jackson said on CNN.
In 1984, Jackson helped gain the release of a Navy pilot held in Syria; in 1991 he negotiated the release of 500 people held captive in Iraq; and in 1999 he convinced Yugoslavia to release three U.S. soldiers during the Kosovo conflict.
Susan Hallums, the captive’s ex-wife, asked for Jackson’s assistance. “I feel so drained, and this has given me more strength again to have more hope and faith,” she told the Daily Bulletin. “I know ultimately it’s in God’s hands. He [Jackson] is a strong religious leader who’s helped many others. I’m just so hopeful that he’ll help our loved one.”
Hallums, 56, was abducted on Nov. 1 along with five others after a mob of more than 20 men raided his company office in Baghdad, according to media reports. Hallums worked for a Saudi company that does catering for the Iraqi army.
Hallums’ ordeal gained international attention after his captors released a 60-second video in late January. On the tape, Hallums is sitting on the floor, pleading for his life while his abductors hold a rifle to his head.
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