Prisoner of Conscience of the month

Jesus himself was a prisoner of conscience. He was tried illegitimately and crucified by the Romans. In that spirit, every month (or two, or three, or whatever) I will highlight a prisoner of conscience. Not to compare them to Jesus, but to invite us to pray for their safety, their release, and the same for all other such prisoners.

Tayseer Alony Kate is a Syrian-born Spaniard, and a top reporter for Al-Jazeera. He somehow wrangled an interview with Osama bin Laden, a month after 9/11. His other reporting on al-Jazeera and CNN on civilian deaths caused by US raids embarrassed the Pentagon. He was sentenced to 7 years in isolation in a maximum-security Spanish prison, allegedly for aiding two terrorists. The Spanish government's evidence was somewhat dodgy. However, prosecutors failed to prove that he should have known that his contacts were terrorists, or that they were even instrumental in arranging the interview. All the evidence presented against him was tenuous and circumstantial.

Alony pressed bin Laden as to how a devout Muslim could justify indiscriminate murder. Bin Laden's justification was inadequate. He said that "good terrorism" deterred others from killing people in Palestine and in other places. As to the fact that innocent civilians died in the 9/11 attacks, bin Laden points only to the people who have been killed in Muslim lands for decades, that the Prophet's proscription of killing women and children is not "set in stone," that there are other writings that uphold it. Towards the end of the interview, his replies degenerated into threats and warnings against Muslim countries that "collaborated" with the enemy. Either way, Alony's interview with bin Laden did not exactly glorify terrorism. It merely exposed bin Laden as an idiot who is using the Palestinians as an excuse.

As for Alony, it does not look likely that he will be pardoned. To appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, his lawyers will have to prove that he was not given a fair trial in Spain. Mark Ellman, a british human rights lawyer who observed Alony's trial, said that it might be difficult to prove that Spanish legal procedure was violated. The Zapatero government is likelier than the last one to pardon him, but that will be difficult as well.

Information for this piece was taken from an article by Leslie Crawford in, of all places, the Financial Times. You should be able to find it on the FT website, but to view it, you'll need either a subscription or to take a free trial. Below is a prayer service in honor of nonviolent resistance that also offers intercession for political prisoners.


L. We pray for all people according to their needs ;
Response: God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

L. We give thanks to those throughout history and today who have risked their freedom and their lives in the cause of justice:
For Jesus of Nazareth, who was imprisoned and executed by political authorities;
For Mahatma Gandhi;
For other prisoners and martyrs [invite people to name some...]
Rx.

L. We pray for all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners throughout the world; we pray for a free and just society open to hearing diverse political views without feeling threatened. And pray for the release of those whose only crime has been to speak the truth.
Rx.

L. We pray for all the political prisoners in this prison and in other prisons in Chiapas.
Rx.

L. For those imprisoned unjustly, and for those that languish in prison without due process; we pray for just treatment and the rule of law.
Rx.

L. We give thanks for the advances that Governor Pablo Salazar has made in releasing political prisoners and pray that further steps will be taken, especially on the federal level.
Rx.

L. We pray for all prisoners everywhere and for their families; that those who are incarcerated may feel God’s presence and see the light of hope even in the darkest places; that the families whose loved ones are imprisoned may know God’s comfort during the time of separation, and that God will grant them strength and resources to carry on under additional economic and psychological burdens.
Rx.

L. We pray for an end to violence, for the transformation of hearts of those that have used or would use violence, and for an infusion of God’s grace and peace into those hearts.
Rx.

L. We pray for forgiveness for our complicity with unjust structures and violent systems, and for a cleansing of violence and vengeance from our own hearts.
Rx.

L. We pray for all the poor and for thosse imprisoned by conditions of oppression and economic hardship, and pray for a just society under the reign of God in which all people will live togethere in freedom, gathering around the same table to enjoy the abundance of God’s gifts and grace.
Rx.

L. We pray for wisdom and courage to help bring in the Reign of God that Jesus proclaimed; to liberate the captives and the oppressed; to give sight to the blind, and to manifest a year of jubilee.
Rx.

L. We know that God hears our prayers, spoken and unspoken, and is near to all who call upon the name of God. In this assurance we commend all our prayers to the God of justice and Peace, who reigns over all creation now and forever.
Rx: Amen.



(Sponsored by: ECAP (Equipos Cristianos de Accion por la Paz). Tel. (in Chiapas): 678-5905; e-mail: cptmx@laneta.apc.org.
In conjunction with a vigil sponsored by SERPAJ (Servicio Paz y Justicia) – Morelos and students of UNAM, to be held in front of the National Palace, Mexico, D. F. on the same day)