Hostage’s wife calls on IS militants to release her husband

Alan Henning, a 47-year-old British aid worker who was captured by IS militants in Syria, appeared at the end of the video after the beheading of a fellow British captive.

IS militants threatening to kill former taxi driver Alan Henning, captured when he was in Syria delivering aid
IS militants threatening to kill former taxi driver Alan Henning, captured when he was in Syria delivering aid

The wife of Alan Henning – the British aid worker who was taken hostage last December by Islamic State (ISIS) militants – has made a heartfelt appeal to the militants, calling on “the people of the Islamic so see in their hearts to release” Henning.

Henning, a former taxi driver from Manchester, was taken hostage last December in Syria. Last week, the 47-year-old aid worker was shown at the end of the video after the beheading of fellow British captive David Haines.

Henning's wife Barbara said she has sent messages to Isis asking them to release her husband but has had no response.

In a statement released through the Foreign Office she said: "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,” she said.

ISIS militants have previously released footage showing the killing of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, while a separate video released this week showed British journalist John Cantlie reading a script and explaining that he would speak about ISIS in future videos.

A series of pleas for the release of Henning have been made by high-profile Muslim leaders in recent days, warning Isis that the killings and threats are against Sharia law.