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ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

CHARITY URGES KIDNAPPED AID WORKER'S RELEASE
Meanwhile Care International Suspends Operations In Iraq

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) -- Islamic Relief USA, part of the Islamic Relief Worldwide charity and development group, today called for the release of Margaret Hassan, employed by CARE Australia as head of CARE's humanitarian relief operations in Iraq, according to The Australian newspaper, based on reports from correspondents in Los Angeles, California. (Pictured: Margaret Hassan, said to be a British-born Iraqi national, the director of CARE International's operation in Iraq, is seen in this image made from video footage May 20, 2003. Credit: AP).

"We call on Mrs Hassan's captives to recall the humanitarian work she has been doing in Iraq for over 25 years and release her so she can carry on her good work," said Arif Shaikh, a spokesman for the Burbank, California-based Islamic Relief USA.

The holy Islamic month of Ramadan, which began Friday, "is a month of mercy, and a month of charity," he said.

"It is during this month that the work of Mrs Hassan and CARE should be increased. We hope Mrs Hassan remains unharmed and is safely released to her family."

Islamic Relief Worldwide is a relief and development group operating in 28 countries. The group has been working in Iraq since 1997, and has worked with CARE on humanitarian projects in several countries, the newspaper said.

Mrs Hassan is married to an Iraqi, is a naturalized Iraqi citizen with dual nationality, and was seized while on her way to work in Baghdad, CARE officials said.

CARE INTERNATIONAL SUSPENDS AID OPERATIONS IN IRAQ

Meanwhile CARE International suspended its operations in Iraq today following the kidnapping of Mrs. Hassan, who was described as “an Irish-Iraqi woman who had been delivering aid to the ‘poorest of the poor’ in the country for more than 25 years.”

CARE's operations in Iraq have been suspended, CARE Australia Chief Executive Officer Robert Glasser told ABC radio today.

"Our staff are not operating currently there, they're certainly not working there now in light of the current situation," he said.

Margaret Hassan, the head of Iraq operations for CARE and employed through the organization's Australia branch was taken hostage about 2.30pm AEST (7.30am Iraqi time) yesterday, Glasser said.

CARE Australia's chief executive, Robert Glasser, in a report carried by www.NEWS.com.au, (Australia) has confirmed the halt to operations, but is reluctant to talk about anything to do with the kidnapping given the delicate nature of Mrs Hassan's situation.

"It would be unhelpful for us to comment on what steps we are taking," he said. "Our overwhelming concern has to be for Margaret's safety."

The Australian website reports CARE earlier said it believed Mrs Hassan was unharmed. She is a British-born naturalized Iraqi who has worked for CARE since 1992, has lived in Iraq for 30 years, and is married to an Iraqi.

Robert Glasser said Mrs Hassan was under contract with the organization's Australian branch.

"We're directly involved in steps to secure her release," he said. "We're doing whatever we can, so it's something we're taking very, very seriously."

'IRAQ'S HER HOME'

A CARE spokeswoman said the organization had no idea who had kidnapped Mrs Hassan or what their demands might be, but was keen to stress that Mrs Hassan saw herself as part of the Iraqi community.

"We want to stress that she sees herself as an Iraqi. Iraq is her home. She has been living there for many years and would never consider coming back to Britain," the spokeswoman said.

She declined to say whether Ms Hassan was in a vehicle at the time of the abduction, or whether she was alone. The abduction comes just over two weeks after kidnappers beheaded British hostage Kenneth Bigley.

CARE International is one of the world's largest independent global relief and development organizations. It operates in more than 72 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is also one of the only international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to maintain a continuous presence in Iraq.

Most others pulled their remaining foreign staff out the country after two Italian aid workers were kidnapped for three weeks in September.

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.