With a Saturday execution deadline looming, the brothers of a Canadian man held hostage in Iraq made another plea to his abductors, saying Friday that their brother was in Iraq to gather information on alleged human rights abuses. James Loney, 41, and three other Christian Peacemaker Teams aid workers -- Canadian Harmeet Sooden, 32, Briton Norman Kember, 74, and American Tom Fox, 54 -- were kidnapped in Iraq on November 26. A group calling itself the Swords of Justice Brigades threatened to execute the men on Thursday unless all Iraqi prisoners were released. The group later extended its deadline to Saturday. The four men have been gathering evidence about people being treated poorly while "detained by occupation forces," Edward Loney said. "So it was important for my brother's team to be there to hear the testimonials of people who are being snatched up in the night and detained against their will," Edward Loney said. "He has really strong values about peace and loving people equally, and getting a message out about human rights, the importance of human rights for all individuals." Matthew Loney, who said his brother has been to Iraq three times, added that the four men were gathering information once left to other humanitarian groups, the ranks of which have thinned because of insurgent attacks. The brothers said they have received tremendous support domestically and abroad, especially from Muslims, CNN reported.
