CPTnet
13 September 2006
IRAQ: Muslim Peacemaker Teams holds on to a vision of peace
by Peggy Gish
"With an organization linking peace and environmental issues, we took a
survey of 5,000 people concerning the dangers of small weapons. We put
children's pictures, showing the problems of weapons, in galleries and
displayed them at the Cairo conference on banning small arms. Now I hope to
start a camp for scouts and train and mentor them in peacemaking, but I need
much more training to train others," reported Omar*, a member of the Muslim
Peacemaker Teams (MPT) from Kerbala.
Five members of MPT from Kerbala and Najaf had come to Suleimaniya to talk
with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) and network with Kurdish
organizations. CPTers and MPTers shared what has happened with each group in
the six months since they last met in Baghdad. Members of MPT took turns
talking about their hopes for the future.
"I used to believe that violence was the strongest way to deal with
conflicts, but I learned from MPT that peaceful methods are best," said
Hassan.* "I want to be peaceful in all areas of my life. As a law student, I
am trying to understand how I can work for peace through MPT."
Wisam* spoke about working with different organizations teaching democracy
and helping women learn about their rights. Now he wants to educate people
about the dangers of children playing with violent toys. He also wants MPT
to publish booklets and writings, and make posters and signs. He hopes
these materials would "increase people's awareness about MPT, the importance
of peacemaking and its roots in Islam."
"In the MPT meetings I learned that I need to look inside and understand the
violence inside myself in order to understand how to work for peace," said
Leela, a young university student.
Sa'id* added, "We not only want to work for peace in Iraq, but in the whole
world!"
CPT and MPT also spent time discussing how they could continue to work
together. CPTers explained that their own ability to continue working in
Iraq is not clear. If they are able to do so, they see possible ways to work
with MPT: assisting them in launching their campaigns, contacting and
networking with other groups and getting them more intensive training.
As with other Iraqi organizations, the increasing violence and instability
around them has made moving forward for the MPT difficult. MPTers have
struggled with organizational problems. Their strengths have been in their
ability to intervene in violent situations in their own community and reach
out to other Iraqis from different ethnic groups. Their work is rooted in
their faith, and this has given them strength to move beyond their fears to
working for peace. And while so many others in Iraq have lost hope that any
positive change can take place, they have held on to their vision for a
peaceful world and know it is the only sane choice they have.
* Names changed for the protection of MPT members.
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Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in
organized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trained
peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reduction
initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethren
and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range of
Christian denominations.
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