Former President Jimmy Carter has signed on to a petition to Secretary of State John Kerry urging the United States to back off certain sanctions on groups that are deemed terrorist organizations, so that peace workers can go in and work.
Specifically, the petition signed by Mr. Carter requests that Mr. Kerry exempt peace groups from laws that “make it a crime to offer negotiation training and humanitarian law classes to terror groups,” Breitbart said.
The petition states: “The Secretary of State can, and should, exempt peacebuilding activities from this counterproductive application of the law. Doing so would open the door for professional peacebuilders to fully engage in helping to end armed conflicts and suffering around the world, while making the U.S. safer.”
The petition drive was started by the Charity and Security Network. Group members told The Hill that they’ve been concerned with their inability to complete bridge-building projects with the Taliban in Afghanistan and with Hamas in the Palestinian territories.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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