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Fr. Emil Salayta, Peace Advocate, Freed and returned to the USA
09-Aug-03
Press Release
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Robert Younes, MD 301) 983-3022, Toll free (866) 871-HCEF
August 9, 2003
younes@hcef.org
Fr. Emil Salayta, Peace Advocate, Freed and returned to the USA
After spending 20 days in limbo in Toronto Canada, it was announced on August 8, 2003 that Father Emil Salayta would be allowed to re-enter the United States. His friends and many supporters were overjoyed on hearing the news and celebrated with him when he returned to the United States. During the time of his brief sojourn in Toronto, his friends, peace advocates all, roamed the halls of Congress and spoke to countless Representatives and Senators. American officials were bombarded with phone calls and faxes asking for Father Emil’s freedom. Christian Clergy at all levels made significant strides to obtain his release. The United States Catholic Bishops Conference (USCCB), the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and the Arab American Institute (AAI) entered the fray and worked tirelessly to end Father Emile’s exile. This outpouring of support finally exerted its effect on American officials who relented and allowed Father Emil to return to the United States.
Father Emil and the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation wish to thank all those who lent a hand to obtain his release. It is only through the efforts of all peace advocates working together that brought about the demise of this egregious mistake. On his return to the United States, Father Emil offered, “I want all my supporters who worked for my release to know that I am humbly grateful for their help. Now we must turn to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land who suffer more than we can imagine and work for their survival in the land where Christ was born.”
His saga began after a brief trip to Canada from the United States. He was detained at the Toronto Airport for five hours by the American Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services on July 20, 2003 and prevented from re-entering the United States. “After reviewing the pertinent laws and checking with experts, to this day, the Holy land Christian Ecumenical Foundation firmly believes that Father Emile was detained in error “ Said Sir Rateb Rabie, HCEF President.
Father Emil is a Roman Catholic priest who represents the Catholic Church and the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem; he has traveled to the U.S. on numerous occasions in the past to attend various official meetings. As a Jordanian, he is an internationally recognized peace advocate and is the cofounder of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF). Fr. Salayta was born in Madaba, Jordan, home to an ancient Christian community dating back to the time of Jesus Christ. He is currently based in Rome, Italy. A passionate advocate for reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis for a just peace in the Holy Land, Fr. Salayta is a frequent speaker in the U.S. and abroad about the plight of Christians of the Holy Land.
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*The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 organization, committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land through building bonds of solidarity between Christians in the United States and in the Holy Land. We have two goals: inform Americans about the Christians in the Holy Land and provide humanitarian assistance for the needy in the land where Jesus Christ was born, preached, died and rose again. HCEF, 6935 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 214, Bethesda, MD 20815 (301) 951-9400, Toll Free (866)871-4233 (HCEF), www.hcef.org Email: news@hcef.org
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