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Hostage In Iraq

Author:	Norman Kember
Published By:	Darton, Longman and Todd (London)
Pages:	205
Price:	14.95
ISBN:	978 0 232 52699

Reviewed by Ursula Franklin.

Norman  Kember, a Christian pacifist, wrote of a nightmare that he had  when kidnapped with three others: "I was kidnapped and confined, handcuffed to three others, in a small room, for weeks. I woke and it was reality. I opened my eyes to see the dreadful truth of the room around me.  I felt the handcuff on my wrist and the chain on my ankle. Why did I ever come to Iraq?"

He was kidnapped with two Canadian peace activists on 26November 2006 in Iraq. They were later joined by Tom Fox, an American marine.

In this book, Kember describes how he came to be in Iraq. He tells of how he was greatly influenced by Pastor Niemoller and Toyohiko Kagawa, who founded the Anti-War League. These models were reinforced when he read The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

In 1952, when his papers arrived for National Service, he registered as a conscientious objector. When he retired from teaching physics in University, he decided to put his energies into the Network of Christian Peace Organisations. In 2005 Norman attended a Mennonite Centre in London for a day's workshop about Christian Peacemaker Teams.

He was deeply challenged, and writes: "Was I enjoying the consolations of Christianity without living up to its commitment?" He decided to join a short term delegation to Iraq.

Kember's account of his time of imprisonment is succinct and restrained. He writes as an observer of mankind and gives an ordered account of events. Living in close proximity was very difficult for him.  He blamed the Baghdad team for their lack of care in allowing them to be captured.  He was aware of his own frailty, for he was 74 years of age, and the contrasting vitality of the American, Tom Fox, was a source of irritation. Tom was taken from the group on 12 February 2006 and, although the group did not know it, he was shot. Kember, together with peace activists James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden were released on 8 December 2006. All had endured fear, loneliness and despair. All are committed to the power of forgiveness trusting "that good deeds will come from the lives of our captors".

Kember was left with the problems of reconciling the dilemma that he went to Iraq in peace and came out with the SAS; and of how to justify the costs of their release? He has many other questions. He remains an ardent believer in peacemaking and non violence.

He writes of how he was unable to accept the advice of the CPT to have trauma counselling. He writes, '"I will deal with trauma in my own way".  Norman appreciated immensely the support of his church, the British public and all those who prayed and worked so hard for his release. His wife's support by giving interviews in England and continual prayers were treasured by him. He decided he would never again expose her to such stress.

I was left admiring the guts of the man, but I wanted to know what God meant to him under such dreadful conditions and circumstances. For me the book would have been greatly enhanced if he had been able to share his spiritual journey. Unfortunately his "elderly British reserve" which was a burden to him both in his captivity and at the time of his release did not allow him to!