Islamic State hostage Alan Henning’s wife begs for his release

The wife of kidnapped British aid worker Alan Henning has issued a statement to the Islamic State (IS), calling on his captors to release him. The statement, issued through the U.K. Foreign Office, said: “I am Barbara Henning the wife of Alan Henning…His purpose for being in Syria 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.” She added: “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 Islamic State to see it in their hearts to release my husband Alan Henning.”

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.

Barbara Henning

It is the first public statement by Mr Henning’s family since he appeared in the IS video. Henning, 47, a former taxi driver from Manchester, was captured last December near the town of al Dana in Syria by IS militants. He was shown at the end of a video last week following the murder of fellow British captive David Haines. His family’s statement follows an appeal by Muslim scholars in the UK also calling for Henning’s release. IS has previously released footage showing the murders of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. A separate video last week showed British photojournalist John Cantlie , dressed in an orange jumpsuit, saying he wanted to “convey some facts” about IS and saying he would speak about the group in future videos. There was no threat to kill Mr Cantlie in the video.

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