Support for Jill Carroll

There is a path here in California that I have walked with a member of Jill's family. At one spot, we stopped and prayed together for Jill's safety and release. That was in January. I return to that path regularly and take a moment at that spot to pray for Jill. Praying for Jill always gives me hope and I believe she will be safe. Thanks to the Monitor for keeping us in communication with each other and for every shred of news you publish on Jill. Her light continues to shine.

Kathy Welsh, Sunnyvale, Calif., USA

The Michigan Muslim community's prayers are with Jill. We pray to God for her quick release as well as comfort to her family while they are patiently waiting for her return.

Dawud Walid, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations - Michigan, Detroit, Mich., USA

Our family prays, and our thoughts are with you every day. We pray for your safe return home very soon. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family during this time.

Diana Perry, Los Angeles, Calif., USA

My heart and prayers are with Jill Carroll and her family. I can only imagine the range of emotions that both Jill and her family are experiencing. Just stay strong and know that the sane world sends much love and peace.

Monica Chambers, Barhamsville, Va., USA

Dear Jill, I hope you'll be back at home soon. I think about you and your courage. The courage of a woman that tries to tell the truth. The courage of a woman that with her words says no the war. Don't give in. We all need you.

Isabella Bernasconi, Morbio Superiore, Ticino, Switzerland

I still pray for Ms. Carroll's release, and I will continue to do so as I'll pray for that all combatants in Iraq will reconsider and calm down, start a new chapter of peace and respect for each other with each other regardless of what brought them in to this dreadful terror. Whoever you are, please release Ms. Carroll unharmed and end this madness. You will earn the respect of all mankind.

Mikael Sjogren, Trollhattan, Sweden

I look forward to seeing Jill freed by her captors. I am confident of this. Her captors must surely understand that harming her serves no purpose. Once freed, she will have much to tell the world.

Kent Elwell, Rochester, N.Y., USA

Jill, I pray for your heart to be filled with grace and mercy, peace and compassion, and I pray for the same for your captors, that they be able to see you as who you are, as a fellow child of God, as a friend, and that in that spirit they be compelled by nothing but love and a desire to help you live. Thank you for your light. Hang in there.

Kristin Johnson, Fairview, Tenn., USA

I am an English teacher in Spirit Lake, Iowa. I am fortunate to have a student from Iraq in the class. Her parents are professors in Iraq. We have all followed, with grave concern, the kidnapping of Jill. My student tells us that all of the young people in Iraq love Jill and will not allow her to be killed without great protest. Please know that as a class, and for myself personally, we hope for her release. I include her in my daily prayers.

Mary Chris White. Spirit Lake, Iowa, USA

I also hope for Ms. Carroll's release. She is a courageous person who only searches for the truth and who cannot be confused with any sort of aggressor against Iraq or its people. She is innocent and at the mercy of her captors, and I sincerely hope the many pleas for her safe release will come true, as I hope that all innocent hostages will be released without harm.

Daniel Hounsell, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

"There's a light, there's a light in the darkness. And the dark of the night cannot harm us. We can trust not to fear, for our comfort is near. There's a light. There's a light in the darkness." -There's a Light (author unknown)

Dear Jill, The quote above is a verse of a song I've sung with my choir over the years when I was in the States. Reading online about your plight last month, I decided to light a candle every night I'm at home as part of my prayers for you, your captors, and everyone in Iraq. You have such an amazing spirit, and somehow I know that God is sustaining you and your family through this trial. How beautiful that you and your courageous work have inspired and united people from many backgrounds to speed your release. Take care and stay strong.

Patti Crow, Shibushi, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan

Not a day has passed since Jill's abduction that I don't think about her and pray for her safe return to her friends and family.

I had the honor and privilege of working with Jill on the UMass Daily Collegian and watching her develop into the caring, passionate, and objective journalist that she is today. From the very beginning, Jill wanted only to tell the truth and to be objective and fair. Her desire to get the story out there for all to know and write it well made her an inspiration for us all in the newsroom.

I graduated a year before Jill, and sadly we didn't do a good job of keeping in touch, despite all the graduation promises, but I have thought of her and followed her work on the Internet.

While I never had the pleasure of meeting Jill's family, I do know how close they all are and cannot imagine the anguish and sadness they are experiencing as each moment passes.

I hold thoughts of her family, Jill and thoughts of her safe return close to my heart.

Leigh Faulkner, Beverly, Mass., USA

No reasonable person is behind Jill's kidnapping. She was there to report to the outside world what is really happening (the truth) to the people of Iraq.

This kidnapping has no justification for any conceivable reason. As a Muslim, I would like to urge the people who kidnapped her to immediately release her without condition. Everyone, including Jill, her family, and Muslims around the world are suffering because of this kidnapping.

Let's me say this to those who kidnapped her: you are undermining your own cause by kidnapping or killing innocent people.

May Allah facilitate her immediate release.

Mohamed Nur, Kansas City, Mo., USA

I am praying that you may be reunited with your family and friends soon, to continue your life and your work. Your dedication to reporting about Iraqi life based on personal knowledge of the language and culture is inspirational.

Susan Todhunter, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA

Dear Jill and Family, I have prayed each and every day, and today, the 26th, I continue to pray. I pray for your safety and a quick end of this so you can return to your family.

May the people who have taken you have mercy and see they don't need you in all this.

I will continue to pray and write letters to the embassy in Iraq.

Mary Moriarty, Kampot, Cambodia

I wrote here in support of Jill Carroll some time ago, and I am writing again to say I continue to look forward to the day when she is released whole and healthy. May that day also come to be seen as a turning point in Iraqi history, when terror in daily life began to diminish.

William Hadfield-Burkardt, Wiesbaden, Germany

Every day, Jill, I wonder how you are; I wonder how your captors are. We pray for your safe release; God of all watches over you. I hope the goodness of your heart wins the respect of your captors; I pray for a softening of their hearts so they let compassion enter and free you as soon as possible. My six granddaughters and grandson hold you in their hearts. We view you as a hero of our times. Blessings to your family, as well.

Barbara Stumph, Walnut Creek, Calif., USA

Palestinian people are giving their support for Jill Carroll. We're all behind you.

R.R.Hattab, Amman, Jordan

I check for updates on Jill every day, and will be relieved and thrilled for her family when I hear of her safe release. I hope her captors will do what is right and let this beautiful and courageous young woman free. I hope, also, that our government expedites its process of releasing any innocent female Iraqi detainees, so that all arrive at the right decisions and Jill's family and friends can see her again soon.

Denise Roma, Evanston, Ill., USA

Jill, you have the Assyrian-American population praying for your safe return! These prayers will continue until your safe return! In Christ, everything is possible!

Michael David, Toluca Lake, Calif., USA

Stay strong, precious Jill. May your captors look into your eyes and know that more than anyone you have had sympathy for their plight. May you find kindness as you have shown it. May you return safely SOON to the family who loves you so much. Please release Jill. She has been your messenger, not your enemy. Love and prayers from all of us,

Sandy Leighton, Mountain View, Calif., USA

Time is running out. On behalf of my family, I write this message to the abductors of Jill Carroll.

There is no faith that preaches or support to cause harm to another human being. All religions around the world, speak of love and compassion for one another. We know this because, when growing up, we have all been to the mosque, memple and church. The message is the same. Members of my family and I grew up in a multicultural, and multilanguage – religious environment. We want to share this education and experience with the abductors.

The whole world is pleading with you to release Jill Carroll. We have only to believe that you have acted in anger, and thru sheer ignorance. To release Jill Carroll unharmed, will bring you respect, praise and support from the entire world, and God’s forgiveness. Jill showed her true commitment by learning the Arabic language. Please recognize this.

We ask God to bless the minds of the captors and guide them with real wisdom, and have them do the right thing. As you read this message, we humbly beg of the captors to release Jill Carroll to her family unharmed.

Mohamed Z. Cassim, Tamuning, Guam, USA

In April 2005 a young American woman named Marla Ruzicka was killed in Iraq while on her mission of helping Iraqi commoners seek justice in that suffering country. The Monitor published a touching article about Marla's courage and compassion, her selflessness and sweetness. I feel somehow that angels representing Marla's goodness are hovering over you, Jill, keeping you safe and strong, and keeping the flame of love for mankind -- and for the Iraq people in particular -- lit in your heart.

Just know, Jill, that several of the Christian Science Reading Rooms in Houston have your photo and updated news about you displayed in their sidewalk windows, and there is not a day that goes by that passersby do not stop to read about you and pray for your release.

This powerful sentence on p. 568 of Science and Health (written by the Monitor's founder, Mary Baker Eddy) applies to you, Jill, and to all the innocents held captive by mortals with misguided intentions: "Innocence and Truth overcome guilt and error."

Susan Clay, Houston, Texas, USA

My three young sons and I pray for Jill each night. I am sure that God's peace is with her. I also pray each night that each of my sons will grow up to become someone like Jill Carroll. I want them to pursue their dreams and aspirations with the same courage that she obviously possesses.

Michael Connell, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., USA

I feel helpless in being able to impact the minds of the people who have captured and held Jill Carroll all this time. If my prayers and voice can help to make a change, I happily add my voice to the millions seeking her release. We only want this caring woman to have an opportunity to have a full and meaningful life.

Penelope Balint, Santa Clara, Calif., USA

I went with a friend to his mosque to pray for the release and safe return of Jill to her family and friends. May God bless her with strength. May her captors be touched by God, and may the writings of the Koran prompt them to release her.

Don Brown, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Jill has been in my thoughts and prayers since I found out about her capture. I can't even imagine having a fraction of the courage that she holds. I continue to pray for her safe release and reunion with her family and friends. Stay strong, Jill! We're all praying for you, and we're all behind you.

Danielle Mandosa, Stoneham, Mass., USA

I write from Ann Arbor, where Jill grew up and where so many of us are thinking constantly of Jill, her sister, and her parents. Our community is proud to have nurtured this courageous and committed young woman who has touched lives and changed the world already at age 28. Stay strong, Jill, feel the support of everyone who is thinking of you and praying for you, and please, please, come home safely and soon.

Sandy Simon, Ann Arbor, Mich., USA

As a photojournalist I wish to lend my support to the release of Jill Carroll.  Nothing will be gained by her death.  Additionally, I hope that the chaos, which has engulfed Iraq and the Iraqi people, will soon end. Please release Jill Carroll and let journalists do their work unhindered.

Guy Warrington, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada