Prayer Service For Kassig Calls For His Release

Hundreds of people gathered at Butler University Wednesday night to pray for the Indianapolis man named as the next beheading victim of the Islamic State group known as ISIS, and to honor his work with Syrian refugees. 

Abdul-Rhaman Kassig went to Syria in 2012 to run a relief organization for Syrian refugees. He was captured last October and converted to Islam while in prison.

Hazem Bata, executive director of the Islamic Society of North America, was one of the speakers at a prayer service for Kassig.   Bata says the militant Muslims holding Kassig are contradicting the Quran’s teachings of mercy and compassion.

"They claim to be in adherence to Islam, whereas nothing in Islam justifies anything they are doing," says Bata. "In fact, it’s the exact opposite."

Kassig’s parents, Ed and Paula, reached out to the Muslim community in Indianapolis after news broke of their son’s capture. 

Azher Khan is the president of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana.  His group, along with the Butler University Muslim Association, hosted Wednesday night’s event in hopes that people will focus on Kassig efforts to provide aid to Syrian refugees.

"Once he made up his mind nobody could change, he knew the perils but he was determined," says Khan. "And there's nothing I want more tonight than to hug him at International Airport."

The program called for the release of Kassig and focused on his passion for helping those in need.  Over 3 million refugees – half of whom are children – have been displaced by the Syrian Civil War. 

Wearing white, as a symbol of peace, Abdul-Rahman’s parents attended the vigil and are now urging people to find a charity to aid Syrian children who have been displaced from their homes.