Liberal Muslims Appeal For Release Of Gilad Shalit

According to the JTA, a group of prominent American Muslims has issued a letter urging Hamas to immediately release captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The Aug. 26 letter’s 11 signatories include the two Muslim members of Congress – Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Andre Carson (D-IN) -- as well as Muslim academics and communal figures.

The letter said in part,

"We believe Hamas’ harsh treatment and five-year detention of Shalit is wrong. ... The struggle for Palestinian human rights and self-determination must be based on this ethical and moral code. Hamas’ inhumane detention of Shalit undermines the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations for human rights and a state of their own, existing in peace and security beside Israel."

I don't expect Hamas will be moved, but it is good to see liberal Muslims speaking up on this.

But they do end their letter, with a strangely obsequious line, "Thank you for considering our request." Maybe its a cultural thing, but to my ears it undermines the potential power and seriousness of the rest of the letter.