By Stephen Kaufman
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Journalists and Muslim activists joined forces to call for the immediate safe release of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, whose life has been threatened by his captors in Pakistan.

"Daniel should not become another victim of the ongoing conflict," said Muhammed Ali, former boxing champion and Muslim activist. "I appeal to you to show Daniel Pearl compassion and kindness. Treat him as you would wish all Muslims to be treated by others," said Ali in a letter to the kidnappers released January 31.

Pearl was kidnapped January 23 in Karachi, Pakistan while on assignment. His kidnappers have threatened to execute him if Pakistani Taliban fighters held by the U.S. Armed Forces at Camp X-Ray in Cuba are not released.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Islamic advocacy group, issued a statement February 2 calling for Pearl's unconditional release.

"Such actions by those claiming to act on behalf of Muslims are in sharp contradiction to Islamic teachings and violate the internationally accepted neutral status of journalists during times of conflict. Those who seek justice for themselves should not inflict justice on others," said the statement.

The CAIR statement, released by board chairman Omar Ahmad, concluded with a citation from the Quran calling upon Muslims to "stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God."

Reporters Without Borders (RSF - Reporters Sans Frontieres) announced January 31 that it was appealing for mobilization on behalf of Pearl. RSF released a letter to prominent Islamic leaders, including Moroccan King Mohammad VI, Sheikh Tantawi at El-Azhar University in Cairo and Nizamuddin Shamzai, the Mufti of Karachi. The letter called upon the leaders to join the international campaign for Pearl's unconditional release.

"Aware of your faith in an Islam that respects human dignity, we would be very grateful if you could make a public statement to the kidnappers asking them to release Daniel Pearl," said Robert Menard, RSF's secretary general, in the letter.

RSF also met January 31 with the Pakistani ambassador to France and made an appeal at the Premiolino journalism prize award ceremony in Rome for journalists to mobilize in support of Pearl.