Ireland and Palestine: Release Margaret

The Government and Palestinian Authority today issued a joint appeal for the release of Dublin-born aid worker Margaret Hassan held hostage in Iraq.

Foreign Ministers Dermot Ahern and Dr Nabil Shaath said Mrs Hassan, who worked for years to end the suffering of people in the Gulf state, should be released for the sake of humanity.

Mrs Hassan was abducted at gunpoint early on Tuesday while on her way to work with aid agency CARE International in western Baghdad.

The kidnappers have not identified themselves or made any demands despite Mrs Hassan’s husband, Tahseen Ali Hassan, making an emotional public plea for her to be freed.

Mr Ahern said stringent efforts were being made to make as many contacts on the ground in Iraq to secure the humanitarian worker’s freedom.

“We don’t know the identity of those people,” Mr Ahern said. “The family, and the family on the ground, they are adamant that the best contacts they have of all are those they have locally.”

Dr Shaath called on all groups to end kidnappings.

“I really shared the agony of Mr Ahern and the Irish people for the kidnap of Margaret Hassan,” Dr Shaath said.

“We’re urging all of those with any relationship with this matter to release Margaret Hassan as soon as possible, and to end this spate of kidnapping especially of a humanitarian aid workers, and one who has helped Iraqis all along.”

In a joint statement the pair called for Mrs Hassan’s release for the sake of humanity, compassion and for the people of Iraq.

“Margaret Hassan is an Irish citizen by virtue of her Irish birth.”

“As a worker with the Care agency she worked tirelessly to help the Iraqi people during their long years of suffering.

“She has spoken out in their interests to the national and international media. She does not deserve to be treated in this way. Her family in Iraq, in Ireland and elsewhere should not be suffering as they are now.”

Mr Ahern also said an appeal from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the release of the aid worker would carry great weight among all Arab leaders in the region.

Mrs Hassan, an Irish citizen in her early 60s who also holds dual British-Iraqi nationality, was seized on her way to work in western Baghdad after gunmen blocked her route and dragged the driver and a companion from the car.

CARE International announced yesterday it had halted its operations in Iraq following the abduction.

The aid agency has set up a special team of senior staff to handle the crisis and said it was taking “every possible step” to secure Mrs Hassan’s release.

Mr Ahern added CARE had indicated to him that they had “considerable contacts” on the ground.

But he stressed the Government would only act if called on to do so by those closest to Mrs Hassan.

“So far there is no contact that has been made with anyone on the ground,” he said. “We will do nothing unless we get a request from Mr Hassan.

“All we can do is make as many contacts with friendly nations that have some input into this part of the world,” Mr Ahern said.

Mr Ahern added that sending a delegation to Baghdad in attempt to secure her release could not be ruled out.