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Down Under
Wood family gives thanks to mufti
2005-07-31
THE brother of freed hostage Douglas Wood today visited the senior Islamic cleric who travelled to Iraq to try to secure his brother's freedom. Malcolm Wood presented the mufti of Australia, Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilaly, with a gift at his Sydney home and said his help was greatly appreciated. Australian engineer Douglas Wood, 64, was freed by Iraqi and American soldiers on June 15, after being held hostage for six weeks.

Before Mr Wood's release, Sheik al-Hilaly travelled to Iraq to try to negotiate his freedom. "At danger to his life and in ill health he went to Iraq ... (to) help save our brother Douglas," Malcolm Wood said today. "I think it's likely the Sheik's efforts helped immeasurably."

Before joining the mufti and his family for brunch, Malcolm Wood said his brother was still suffering from ill health after his ordeal. "He's okay but he has some health problems," Mr Wood said. "His vision is still very poor and he has severe rheumatoid arthritis." Mr Wood said Douglas was visiting the US, but hoped to meet with the mufti personally to thank him in the future.
Posted by:Spavirt Pheng6042

#7  Thanks, Charles. It startles me sometimes, the things it doesn't occur to me to think about. It is a good thing for our world that there are others who do. ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-07-31 18:49  

#6  Could be that the brothers taking "Friends" with him to see what the Shiek has too say about the meetings he had with the kidnappers.
Posted by: Charles   2005-07-31 15:25  

#5  oops...that's hunting him
down his captors.
Posted by: 2b   2005-07-31 15:12  

#4  Before Mr Wood's release, Sheik al-Hilaly travelled to Iraq to try to negotiate his freedom. I guess someone had to deliver the ransom money. I think it's the Viking guy, Sven, or whatever his name was that's hunting him down.
Posted by: 2b   2005-07-31 15:11  

#3  Last I heard, Douglas Wood had hired some 'gentlemen' to hunt down his captors. I found this interesting, given the belief that, in general, private enterprise does a better job of providing goods and services than the government. Hopefully, the end result will be someone waking up to find a bullet thru his head and a half-eaten ham sandwich lying on his chest as a calling card. Haven't heard any more about it, though.
Posted by: SteveS   2005-07-31 13:38  

#2  I wonder if the dear brother bothered to check with Douglas Wood before calling on the mufti? I suspect Douglas would not have agreed beforehand to the gesture.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-07-31 11:35  

#1  This is Thank a Muffin Week (after all)
Posted by: Captain America   2005-07-31 10:44  

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