The head of the world’s oldest Islamic movement has called for the release of Briton Norman Kember, abducted in Iraq. Mohammed Mahdi Akef, president of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, said Mr Kember and three other hostages were being held against Islam’s principles. “In the name of the Muslim Brotherhood worldwide I call for the western peace activists in Iraq to be released immediately,” he said on al-Jazeera TV. “Islam rejects the kidnapping of innocent people regardless of their aim, beliefs and opinion”, Mr Akef said.

BBC News, 9 December 2005