‘A selfless man’: Alan Henning’s wife urges his release
The wife of a British taxi driver held hostage by Islamic State militants has urged the Islamic State to release here “peaceful, selfless” husband.
Alan Henning was taken prisoner last December as he delivered aid to Syria, and Islamic State militants have now threatened to kill him.
His wife Barbara appealed to the jihadi group, which now controls an area spanning Syria and Iraq, to release her husband.
Her statement, released via the British Foreign Office, is below:
I am Barbara Henning the wife of Alan Henning.
Alan was taken prisoner last December and is being held by the Islamic State.
Alan is a peaceful, selfless man who left his family and his job as a taxi driver in the UK to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need. When he was taken he was driving an ambulance full of food and water to be handed out to anyone in need. His purpose for being there was no more and no less. This was an act of sheer compassion.
I cannot see how it could assist any state's cause to allow the world to see a man like Alan dying. I have been trying to communicate with the Islamic State and the people holding Alan. I have sent some really important messages but they have not been responded to. I pray that the people holding Alan respond to my messages and contact me before it is too late.
When they hear this message I implore the people of the Islamic State to see it in their hearts to release my husband Alan Henning.
The plea follows a video statement by three prominent British Muslim leaders, in which they said the killing of Mr Henning is not permissible under sharia law.
Below: the last known footage of Alan Henning, known as “Gadget” to his friends.
Turkey hostages
On Sunday Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said no ransom was paid for the release of 46 Turkish hostages held by Islamic State in Iraq, and that it was a result of diplomatic and political negotiation.
The hostages were released on Saturday, raising questions about dealings with Islamic State.
Mr Erdogan also said he has discussed a buffer zone on the Syrian border with US. President Barack Obama and NATO allies at the NATO summit earlier this month.