CAIR SENDS DELEGATION TO IRAQ SEEKING JOURNALIST’S RELEASE
Islamic civil rights group to hold news conference in Michigan, coordinates statement from U.S. Muslim leaders

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/18/2006) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today announced that it is sending a delegation to Iraq to call for the release of American journalist Jill Carroll who was abducted January 7th while on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor newspaper.

Al-Jazeera yesterday aired a brief video from the hostage-takers showing Carroll and threatening to kill her within 72 hours unless U.S. military authorities released all Iraqi women in their custody.

SEE: Hostage Video Ignites Wide Call to Free Carroll

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that because of the short deadline, its delegation will hold an initial news conference late Thursday in Amman, Jordan, to make a public appeal to the kidnappers for Carroll’s freedom. A second news conference will be held in Baghdad on Friday.

CAIR also announced that it will hold a news conference January 19th in Michigan, Carroll’s home state, at which local Muslim leaders will also call for her immediate release.

WHAT: Michigan Muslims to Call for Release of U.S. Journalist Held in Iraq
WHEN: Thursday, January 19, 2006
FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, 248-569-2203, E-Mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

According to the BBC, Iraqi officials now say that six of the eight women being held by coalition forces in Iraq will be released.

SEE: Iraq Detainees to be Freed Early

Along with the delegation to Iraq and the Michigan news conference, CAIR is also coordinating a joint appeal by national Muslim leaders for Carroll’s safe return to her family.

Yesterday, CAIR http://cair.com/ issued a statement, which was translated into Arabic and distributed to Middle Eastern media outlets, calling for Carroll’s “immediate and unconditional” release.

SEE: CAIR Calls For Release of U.S. Journalist in Iraq

In December, CAIR held a news conference at its national headquarters in Washington, D.C., to call for the release of members of the Christian Peacemakers Teams also taken hostage in Iraq.

CAIR has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.