Hostage's friends hold vigil for 'amazing man'

Daniele Abreu e Lima and her husband Leonardo at yesterday's vigil. Picture / Dean Purcell

"If we lose this man, it's a terrible travesty - not only for his family, not only for his friends, but for humanity."

Miriam Pierard spoke those words of Harmeet Singh Sooden, her friend from Auckland University's Students for Justice in Palestine.

The organisation held a vigil last night in Auckland's Aotea Square, drawing nearly a hundred people who braved wind and rain in a show of support for Mr Sooden.

Ms Pierard said his plight was a tragedy.

"He would have done at least this for us, so it's only fair that we do the same thing.

"He went over there with these men to work for peace, to work with people less fortunate than himself, which is something he's always done. It's a terrible tragedy that this has happened to him, of all people.

"He is the most gentle soul, and the most amazing man I've ever met in my life."

Some of those attending got up to speak, including a representative from Christian organisation Pax Christi, Green MP Keith Locke and Mr Sooden's close friend, Daniele Abreu e Lima.

Ms Abreu e Lima, who helped organise the vigil, said: "As a friend, I cannot do much".

"I just can pray, and ask for people to pray with me."

She told the Herald that she had asked him to not go to Iraq.

"I understand his work, and I admire him for that.

"But he is my dearest friend, and I didn't want him to go. He said to me that he had to.

"He thought he could make a difference for someone there."

Mr Sooden had often talked with her about his humanitarian work in Palestine, of doing "little things" around the house for women who had lost their husband and sons.

Ms Abreu e Lima said Mr Sooden was not naive in going to war-torn Iraq - he was always involved in helping people in difficulty.

"These small gestures maybe means nothing to us, but for those people, they have great value."