Jim Loney finds a friend, from the FBI's most-wanted list

Ever since the FBI started its "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list in 1950, just 500 people have been sufficiently notorious to be so recognized.

One of them is Reverend Daniel Berrigan, the Jesuit-educated poet and peace advocate whose non-violent activism so exasperated U.S. officials that J. Edgar Hoover once publicly branded him as a "traitor."

Berrigan (shown) is among almost 15,000 people who've so far signed an online petition asking the Swords of Righteousness Brigade to release Saultite James Loney and three fellow abucted Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) members.

Other signatories to the document include Canadian author/ journalist Naomi Klein, U.S. activist lawyer and presidential candidate Ralph Nader and Noam Chomsky, linguist, foreign policy critic and the most-cited living academic in the world.

The Iraqi militant group is threatening to execute Loney and his fellow peace activists this coming Thursday unless all prisoners in Iraqi and U.S. detention centres are released.

More Loney coverage in today's Toronto Star

"Members of CPT willingly undertook the risks of living among Iraqis, in a common neighborhood outside of the infamous Green Zone," the petition states. "They sought no protection from weapons or armed guards, trusting in, and benefiting from, the goodwill of the Iraqi people. Acts of kindness and hospitality from Iraqis were innumerable and ensured the CPT members' safety and wellbeing.

"We appeal to those holding these activists to release them unharmed so that they may continue their vital work as witnesses and peacemakers."

If you've like to sign the petition yourself or just see who's signed so far, please click here.

More SooToday.com coverage of this story

Saultite kidnapped, accused of spying in Iraq More on the Jim Loney story Saultites remember James Loney A tale of two fathers - by James Loney Statements from families of abducted peace activists World Council of Churches calls for James Loney's release The passionate Catholicism of James Loney Kidnappers to kill James Loney next week St. Gerard Majella to hold prayer service for Jim Loney Noam Chomsky fights for kidnapped Saultite Toronto fasts and prays for Jim Loney Loney family makes video for broadcast on Arab TV Pictures of a peacemaker