MUSLIM aid workers and colleagues of former Salford taxi driver, Alan Henning, have pleaded with his Islamic State (IS) captors to release the 47-year-old married father of two.
"This man is innocent. He has no affiliation with any political agenda. He has shown through his actions and through his love that he is not an enemy of Islam or the Islamic State."
Henning was kidnapped just after crossing the Syrian border to deliver aid on Boxing Day 2013. The ex-cabbie was driving an ambulance on behalf of Rochdale Aid 4 Syria, which raised money for Muslim aid charity, Al-Fatiha Global.
Missing Christmas with his family and despite pleas from loved ones and colleagues to not cross the border, Henning was determined to see the aid he was carrying delivered to its target.
Several of Henning's Al-Fatiha colleagues were also kidnapped, but were quickly released as they were all British Muslims.
Alan Henning
Islamic State jihadis have executed three Western captives in recent weeks, American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and most recently, British aid worker David Haines.
Appearing at the end of the video in which Haines is brutally beheaded, it is feared that Henning may soon face the same grisly fate.
Now Muslims from Henning's charity are pleading with his captors to save him from the same fate. The below video features Abu Abdullah, a friend of Henning's:
Transcript from Call of Mercy to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from British Muslim Aid Workers (released on Wednesday 18 September 2014):
"To our brother Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State and the brothers in Syria, I make this statement on behalf of Muslims in Britain and each and every convoy member who has travelled to Syria to deliver aid of food, blankets and medicine in ambulances to our brothers and sisters in Syria.
"Your prisoner Alan Henning travelled with us several times to Syria, on all occasions we, your Muslim brothers, brought him under our care and protection. The convoy members did not fear entering Syria, and neither did Alan.
"He felt safe, relaxed and happy, as we all did, that no harm would come to him or us whilst he was in the place, in your care; especially as he was delivering much-needed aid to the brothers and sisters in Syria.
"Alan was moved by the suffering of the Syrian people - particularly the children. He worked all of his free time to raise money and awareness about their suffering.
"In December last year he missed Christmas with his own family, to spend it helping our brothers and sisters in Syria. He is a family man, he is a good man.
"Like you and like us his only interest was to relieve the suffering of brothers and sisters in Syria. Please do not take his life to pay for the crimes that the international governments have committed.
"Alan ignored advice from the British goverment and took the risk to travel to Syria to help the people.
"This man is innocent. He has no affiliation with any political agenda. He has shown through his actions and through his love that he is not an enemy of Islam or the Islamic State.
"We plead with you to show him compassion and mercy as he showed compassion and mercy to the Msulims of Syria [...] We beg you (man nearly breaks into tears) to tread the path of justice and show him compassion. We promised Alan safety as Muslims and ask you to fulfil our promise.
"Please show the world has merciful Muslims can be. Please, please, please release Alan."
