Alan Henning's Charity, Muslim Leaders Call For His Release

The Muslim charity with which Alan Henning was associated with when he was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State (IS) militants has made a direct appeal to his captors for his immediate release.  

Al-Fatiha Global made a video describing Henning, 47, a taxi driver by profession, as an innocent man whose motive was only to help others, The Telegraph reports.

The charity also released the last known footage of Henning before his abduction showing him saying that his own sacrifice is "nothing" as compared to the sufferings endured by thousands of Syrians.

Just minutes after crossing the Syrian border on Boxing Day in 2013, Henning was abducted. Other charity workers who were abducted with him were identified as British Asian Muslims and were freed soon.

He is, however, the last hostage to have been threatened by the IS of beheading.

Meanwhile, more than 100 British Muslim leaders called for Henning's release and said that if the IS separatists don't free the aid worker unharmed, they will be committing the "worst condemnable sin" against Islam, The Independent reports.

The statement to The Independent that has been signed by scores of Imams from across the UK and also by community leaders and other prominent Muslim personalities, describes the IS as a group of un-Islamic fanatics, BBC reports.

According to the statement, anyone who takes up a humanitarian act must be respected; and not be subjected to "senseless kidnapping, murder and now despicable threats... at the hands of so-called 'Muslims'". Such actions are not acceptable according to Islamic tradition and cannot be justified anywhere in the Quran.

"The un-Islamic fanatics are not acting as Muslims, but as the Prime Minister has said, they are acting as monsters," they said.