Alan Henning ‘killed by Islamic State’
A video purporting to show UK hostage Alan Henning being beheaded has been released by Islamic State militants.
The Salford taxi driver was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped and then held hostage by IS.
IS threatened to kill him in footage last month showing the death of Briton David Haines, and in this video they threaten US aid worker Peter Kassig.
David Cameron said Britain would do all it could “to hunt down these murderers and bring them to justice”.
The prime minister said the killing of father-of-two Mr Henning, 47, showed “how barbaric and repulsive” IS was.
“Alan had gone to Syria to help get aid to people of all faiths in their hour of need.”
IS has previously released videos showing the apparent beheadings of two US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid worker Mr Haines.
The video released on Friday is yet to be verified, but it appears to show Mr Henning kneeling beside a militant, dressed in black, in a desert setting.
The footage ends with an IS fighter threatening a man they identify as Mr Kassig.
In a statement, Mr Kassig’s family said he had converted to Islam and referred to him as Abdul Rahman Kassig.
They asked people around the world to pray for his release and that of “all innocent people being held hostage in the Middle East and around the globe”.
They also asked people to pray for Mr Henning’s family, adding: “We have read about his work and his generous character with great respect and admiration.”
This latest murder video from the jihadists who call themselves Islamic State is likely to dismay and disgust even many of those who disapprove of western military action against IS.
While countless Muslims have already condemned the extreme and graphic violence of IS, the case of Alan Henning struck a special chord with his many Muslim friends.
Even individuals whom the UK government suspected of extremist leanings had pleaded for his release.
The fact that their pleas fell on deaf ears may now possibly convince others sympathetic to IS that their actions are beyond the pale.
US President Barack Obama led widespread condemnation of the killing, calling it a “brutal murder” and saying it was a “great loss” to the Syrian people Mr Henning had been trying to help.
Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, tweeted: “Saddened by reported murder of Alan Henning. A despicable and offensive act. He helped Muslims. My thoughts and prayers with his family.”
Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: “This barbaric killing is an attack against all decent people around the world.” »»» BBC News
Several days ago over 100 Muslim clerics signed a letter to ISIS warnings them that warning that killing him would go against Islamic law. The members of ISIS have again shown that they do not follow the commandments of God, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) or the principles of Shari’ah law. They are heretics, renegades and blasphemers. A group of Australian imams recently said, “These criminals [ISIS] are committing crimes against humanity and sins against God.
ยป 3 October 2014
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