Parents of US Hostage Peter Kassig Plead with Islamic State For his Release

The parents of U.S. aid worker Peter Kassig released a video Sunday requesting the Islamic State, who are holding him hostage, to release him.

Their appeal to the militants comes in the wake of the Islamic State releasing a video Friday showing the execution of British hostage Alan Henning.

At the end of the video, the militant introduces Kassig and threatens that he could be their next victim.

Kassig was captured on October 1, 2013, while he was traveling to the eastern Syria city of Deir al-Zor to provide aid to Syrian refugees.  Kassig converted to Islam and adopted the name Abdul Rahman while being held hostage.

In their appeal to the militants to  release their son, Ed and Paula Kassig mentioned the Muslim holy festival of Eid celebrated on Saturday.

"As Muslims around the world, including our son Abdul-Rahman Kassig, celebrate Eid ul-Adha, the faith and sacrifice of Ibrahim, and the mercy of Allah, we appeal to those holding our son to show the same mercy and set him free," Kassig's parents said, reports Reuters.

In the video, Kassig's father Ed told the militants that neither he nor his son can control U.S. government policies.

Ed, a teacher, also said that his son loved and admired the Syrian people.

Kassig's mother Paula addressed him directly and said that she was proud of his efforts in bringing humanitarian aid to the Syrian people.

"Most of all, know that we love you, and our hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom so we can hug you again and then set you free to continue the life you have chosen, the life of service to those in greatest need," she said. "We implore those who are holding you to show mercy and use their power to let you go," she said, reports the Associated Press.

Kassig served in the Army from 2006 to 2007. He also served four months in Iraq in 2007 before being medically discharged.  After leaving the army, he started doing humanitarian work and started an organization called Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA) in Turkey to provide aid to Syrian refugees.