The BBC reports:
One of Australia's most senior Muslim leaders is heading to Iraq to help secure the release of an Australian man held hostage by militants. Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali has already appealed on Arabic television for Douglas Wood's captors to set him free... ...Sheikh Taj said he regarded Douglas Wood as a "brother, a fellow Australian and an innocent man" who should not suffer because of politics. The sheikh is one of the most influential figures in Australia's Muslim community and has met members of Mr Wood's family. Late last week, he contacted senior Sunni clerics in Baghdad urging them to do what they could to secure the hostage's freedom. Sheikh Taj is expected to hold talks with government officials on his arrival in Iraq.Bravo! It's good to see prominent Muslims standing up and doing this sort of thing. Update: In the latest news, Hilali has offered to exchange himself for the hostage so that the kidnappers will hold him instead. Update 2: The Australian hostage has been released. alt.muslim has some further background.