The Unending Ordeal: Alan Henning Beheaded By Islamic State

The Islamic State has again disgusted humanity with the release of the video showing beheading of UK hostage Alan Henning. The Salford taxi driver was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped and then held hostage by IS.

Alan’s kidnapping was not made public until nine months later the Sunni militants paraded the taxi driver in their video showing killing of fellow Briton David Haines. Keeping up with their tradition, the IS released the video after Henning’s family appealed for his release.

A BBC profile describes him as “the married father-of-two, known as “Gadget” or “Gadge” to friends because of his technical skills”. He had been on an informal convoy with British Muslims when he was kidnapped in Ad Dana, an area held by IS, on 27 December 2013.

Many Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, have already condemned the extreme and graphic violence of IS and some of them have even taken part in the airstrikes launched by US against the militant group.

The case of Alan Henning has struck a special chord with his many Muslim friends. Reportedly, even individuals who the UK government suspected of extremist leanings had pleaded for his release. BBC says that the fact that their pleas fell on deaf ears may now possibly convince others sympathetic to IS that their actions are beyond the pale.

The video released on Friday is yet to be verified, but it appears to show Henning kneeling beside a militant, dressed in black, in a desert setting – usual for an IS video.

The footage ends with an IS fighter threatening a man they identify as US citizen Peter Kassig. In a statement, Kassig’s family said he had converted to Islam and referred to him as Abdul Rahman Kassig.

The killing has raised concerns about another abductee – British journalist John Cantlie – who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. He has so far appeared in three videos in which he has delivered scripted messages responding to military attacks on IS.

The militants had first killed US citizens but then they chose Britons to join the line. Till now, four Britons have been beheaded. The UK parliament has authorized involvement in the military campaign. The UK has joined airstrike operations launched by the US.