The parents
of American aid worker Peter Kassig today released a YouTube video
begging his ISIS captors to 'show mercy' and free him.
Ed
and Paula Kassig, from Indianapolis, made the emotional plea just one
day after the 26-year-old war veteran was threatened with death in
graphic footage filmed by the terrorist group.
Referring
to his son as Abdul-Rahman - a name he took having converted to Islam
while imprisoned - Mr Kassig said: 'We implore his captors to show mercy
and use their power to let our son go.'
The
school teacher, who was filmed on a sofa alongside his wife, continued:
'Our family deplores all human suffering and the loss of innocent life,
no matter who is responsible.
Speaking
directly to her son, Mrs Kassig, who was donning a headscarf and
clasping a photo of the aid worker in her hands, added: 'We are so very
proud of you and the work you have done to bring humanitarian aid to the
Syrian people.
'Our
hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom so we can hug you again
and then set you free to continue the life you have chosen, the life of
service to those in greatest need.'
Desperate: Mr Kassig, who works as a
school teacher, said: 'Our family deplores all human suffering and the
loss of innocent life, no matter who is responsible. We respond by
trying to persuade aid and assistance'
He added:
'We know that the Syrians have suffered. We also believe violence is not
the solution to the problems that trouble us all. We implore his
captors to show mercy and use their power to let our son go'
Inspiration: Mr
Kassig, who has been held captive by ISIS for the past year, first went
to the Middle East as a U.S. soldier before returning as a medical
worker to help victims of war (pictured)
Peter
Kassig, who has been held captive by ISIS for the past year, first went
to the Middle East as a U.S. soldier before returning as a medical
worker to help victims of war.
While in Turkey, he founded SERA (Special
Emergency Response and Assistance), a medically-oriented emergency
relief group that serves refugee populations and internally displaced
persons.
It
was while working on a project for SERA almost exactly a year ago, on
October 1, 2013, when he was captured by members of ISIS as he headed to
Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria.
Yesterday,
Mr Kassig was threatened with death in a chilling video showing the
beheading of 47-year-old British aid worker Alan Henning.
Humanitarian work: While in Turkey, he
founded SERA (Special Emergency Response and Assistance), a medical
emergency relief organization that serves refugee populations and
internally displaced persons
Selfless: It was while working on a
project for SERA almost exactly a year ago, on October 1, 2013, when he
was captured by members of ISIS as he headed to to Deir Ezzor in eastern
Syria
He
was shown kneeling in the desert at the end of the footage, which saw a
masked militant tell President Barack Obama that U.S. 'aerial
bombardments' are putting them under strain.
The militant added: 'It's only right we continue to strike the necks of your people.'
Speaking of his son's achievements in today's YouTube video, Ed Kassig said: 'At an early age our son was inspired by his grandfather to do humanitarian work.
'When he saw the suffering of the Syrian people, he went to Turkey and founded an organisation to provide aid and assistance.
Beheading: Yesterday, Mr Kassig was
threatened with death in a video showing the beheading of 47-year-old
British aid worker Alan Henning (pictured). He was seen kneeling in the
sand at the end of the footage
'He
helped train 150 civilians in skills needed to provide medical aid to
the people of Syria. This organisation gave food, cooking supplies,
clothing and medicine to those in need.
'He grew to love and admire the Syrian people and felt at home there. Our son's journey culminated in him embracing Islam. Sadly, he was taken captive and is not free to continue his life's work serving the people of the region.'
President: Barack
Obama (pictured) has condemned the death of Mr Henning and urged that
U.S. forces and its allies will bring his killers to justice
The
beheading of Mr Henning yesterday followed the murders of three other
hostages in similar circumstance: U.S. journalists James Foley and
Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.
U.S.
officials have confirmed that Mr Kassig is being held by Islamic State
militants, but have declined to give any more details of his capture.
The
aid worker's family said in a statement yesterday that they had stayed
silent about this news 'at the wish of those who have held their son.'
They
also revealed that their son had converted to Islam while being held
hostage. Former hostages told the family that Kassig's new faith has
given him comfort during his long captivity.
Last
night, President Obama strongly condemned the death of Mr Henning and
urged that U.S. forces and its allies will bring his killers to justice.
'Mr
Henning worked to help improve the lives of the Syrian people and his
death is a great loss for them, for his family and the people of the
United Kingdom,' the politican said in a statement.
'Standing
together with our U.K. friends and allies, we will work to bring the
perpetrators of Alan's murder - as well as the murders of Jim Foley,
Steven Sotloff and David Haines - to justice.'
The
President added that the U.S. and other nations will continue to take
action to 'degrade and ultimately destroy' the Islamic State group.
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