U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison and a group of high-profile Muslims in the U.S. sent a letter to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal Friday urging the militant group to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive since 2006.
The letter, first posted by Politico, says that Hamas's "inhumane detention of Shalit undermines the Palestinian people's legitimate aspirations for human rights and a state of their own." It cites the Qur'an in asking Hamas to immediately release the Israeli soldier.
Ellison and Indiana Rep. Andre Carson, the two Muslims in Congress, and former Pakistani Ambassador Akbar Ahmed are among 11 who sent the letter.
In 2009, Ellison was one of the first high-level U.S. officials to enter Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, in more than three years.
Hamas has demanded a prisoner exchange for releasing Shilat. Israeli media reported Mashal is headed to Cairo this weekend to discuss an exchange to release Shilat.
Here's a copy of the letter provided to Hot Dish:
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