RIYADH, 5 June 2005 — A Romanian Muslim leader thanked Saudi scholar Salman Al-Awdah for helping secure the release of three Romanian journalists recently taken hostage in Iraq, saying it had benefited his community.
“We deeply thank you ... for your valuable efforts and moving appeal, which helped secure the release of the abducted journalists,” Fares Al-Lakta, who chairs the Romanian Islamic and Cultural League, told Al-Awdah in a letter, a copy of which was received by AFP.
The release had “positive effects on the Arab and Muslim community in Romania,” whose efforts in securing the trio’s freedom was praised by President Traian Basescu, Al-Lakta wrote.
The journalists returned to Bucharest on May 23 after nearly two months in captivity.
Romania credited their release to the intervention of Muslim scholars in Romania after a deadline to murder them expired in April.
