The wife of American hostage Jeffrey Ake has spoken out for the first time since her husband was taken hostage in Iraq a year ago today. Jeffrey Ake is one of two Americans still being held hostage in Iraq. Dean Sadek, also held hostage, was kidnapped in November 2004.

We applaud Liliana Ake for breaking her silence. It is difficult to go against the advice of the U.S. State Department and private 'experts' working for insurance companies who have little knowledge about how the hostage situation in Iraq is different than in other areas of the world.

Many of Jeffrey Ake's friends and family have dropped comments or e-mails to me thanking The Jawa Report for keeping Jeffrey's memory alive. Now that Liliana has given us the green light, let us never let a day pass without mentioning Jeffrey Ake publicly.

As former hostage Terry Anderson once said, "The tragic thing is that the torment is as much from the outside by countries and people indifferent to their fate as on the inside by their captors."

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jeffrey Ake and Dean Sadek. No politcal cause can ever justify the taking of civilians hostage. It is a form of barbarity with no excuse.

We can only hope that the media, Muslims, and Leftist organizations will begin to pay attention to the plight of hostages who may not be one of their political allies.

For more, visit the Jeffrey Ake hostage archive here. Visit our extensive hostage archives here. And please, keep Jeff and his family in your prayers.

CNN which also features video:

"Please take the next step to release my husband and return his children's lives to normal," said Liliana Ake during an interview from her home in LaPorte, Indiana....

"He was in Iraq making certain that the Iraqi people have fresh, good water to drink," she said....

Jeffrey Ake was last seen two days later when Arabic-language satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera broadcast a video from insurgents that showed terrorists holding Ake at gunpoint.

There have been no public claims of responsibility for the kidnapping.

Over the last year, Liliana Ake, other family members, and business associates shunned attention from the news media out of fear for Ake's safety.

"Right now it's been the whole year and I think it's time," his wife said.

She said she was spurred to speak out by the powerful media campaign that may have helped free kidnapped journalist Jill Carroll....

"I never actually doubted that Jeff is alive and I never doubted that Jill Carroll will be released and I am celebrating her release," Liliana Ake said. "I'm very happy for her."

Liliana Ake's statement for her husband's abductors said, "One year ago, Jeff Ake, my husband and father of four, was taken hostage, where he remains today. He was in Iraq making certain that the Iraqi people have fresh, good water to drink.

"To the individuals who are holding my husband, Jeff: You have had one year to know him. For that reason, Jeff's family and all our friends continue to believe Jeff is still alive. And you are responsible for his safety.

"When you kidnapped Jeff, you contacted me at my residence and we discussed matters of importance to us both. My telephone number remains the same and my willingness to continue this dialogue remains as strong as it was before.

"In order to resolve this matter and secure Jeff's release, you must call me again. Jeff should be able to give you the number. Please take the next step to release my husband and return his children's lives to normal." ...

During the interview she elaborated on the terrifying ordeal.

After Ake was whisked away, she said she heard from the kidnappers, who said "they were holding him and they would destroy him if I don't cooperate with them."

She said they called her at her home number, which came as quite a shock. She was able to verify that they had her husband because she asked the caller several questions and she received answers that only her husband would know.

She said the callers wanted money, but also made vague mention of political demands, including a reference to American troops.

However, she said she never heard from the callers again after May 1. ...

"I ask my family and friends to demonstrate and speak directly to the American government to open discussions with the Iraqi national resistance," Jeffrey Ake said on the video.

Liliana Ake said, "When I looked at that picture, I was shocked and I prayed that Jeff would be safely released."

During the time since the abduction, she said, it has been "a very, very hard year."

"I haven't slept all year. I wake up in the middle of the night at 1 and I cannot sleep."

"The children are suffering" and are afraid, she said, noting that birthdays have come and gone and Christmas was "never the same."

Her decision to go public has been a tough one.

She didn't make any moves because she was "afraid for Jeff's life. I did not know whether my request or plea would help him or harm him." ...

Liliana Ake said she agreed that the Carroll's public strategy worked and "that's why I decided to go public as well." ....

Liliana Ake said her husband has been all over the world in his work, traveling to more than 60 countries, including Egypt, Kuwait and Iraq. She said he was making his second visit to Iraq when he was kidnapped.

For Iraq, the company built a machine that fills containers of cooking oil and a system to provide water bottling services.

"He embraced every culture," Liliana Ake said.

Asked what she would want to say to her husband if he could hear her, she said "I would like to tell him I love him and I want him back."

She thanked everybody across the country who has prayed for her and sent encouraging letters.

"Please keep on praying for us."

American Kidnapped in Iraq
Hostage Video: American Jeffrey Ake urges US to Leave Iraq
Hostage Jeffrey Ake Safe in Iraq?
Remembering the Forgotten American Hostages: Jeffrey Ake
American Hostage Jeffrey Ake Still Missing (Muslim Clerics, Western Leftists Still Silent)

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