Relatives
of the two hostages killed in Syria release letter calling on British public to
react to threat of extremism
The Guardian, Sandra Laville, Friday 17 October 2014
Relatives of the two British hostages murdered in Syria by members of the terrorist group Islamic State have joined forces to call upon the public to come together in a “single act of unity” to defeat the hate of those who took their lives.
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| Alan Henning was described by his fellow hostage, Frenchman Nicholas Henin, as ‘a total innocent – a kind of teddy bear’. Photograph: PA |
Relatives of the two British hostages murdered in Syria by members of the terrorist group Islamic State have joined forces to call upon the public to come together in a “single act of unity” to defeat the hate of those who took their lives.
Barbara
Henning, wife of Alan Henning, and Mike Haines, whose brother David was the
first British hostage to be killed by Isis, have released a public letter to
the Guardian in which they call for the British people to embrace charity and
human kindness as a way of reacting to the threat posed by the Islamist
extremists in Syria and Iraq.
The letter
says: “We are writing this letter because we will not allow the actions of a
few people to undermine the unity of people of all faiths in our society. How
we react to this threat is also about all of us. Together we have the power to
defeat the most hateful acts. Acts of unity from us all will in turn make us
stronger and those who wish to divide us weaker.
“David and
Alan’s killers want to hurt all of us and stop us from believing in the very
things which took them into conflict zones – charity and human kindness. We
condemn those who seek to drive us apart and spread hatred by attempting to
place blame on Muslims or on the Islamic faith for the actions of these
terrorists.
“We have
been overwhelmed by the messages of support we have received from the British
public and others around the world. We call on all communities of all faiths in
the coming weeks and months to find a single act of unity – one simple gesture,
one act, one moment – that draws people together, as we saw in Manchester last
week and as we are coming together in Perth today.”
The French
journalist Nicolas Henin, who was held hostage for nine months by Isis in
Syria, has spoken to ITV News. Henin, who was released in April, said he had
built close relationships with both Henning and Haines, as well as the murdered
American hostages James Foley and Steven Sotloff.
Henin said
Henning was a “total innocent. He didn’t go to make any money. Alan was a kind
of teddy bear – always willing to help the others.”
He added
that David Haines left the army because “he was fed up with it” and “dedicated
himself to humanitarian action. I find it really immoral to have killed them.”
The remaining British hostage still being held by Isis, John Cantlie, has
broadcast several lectures – apparently under duress – condemning the US and UK
for retaliating against Isis with air strikes. Henin said he hoped the
broadcasts might help save his life.
“I’m
optimistic that the lectures the captors asked him to deliver will be a way for
him to pay for his life. I hope his captors will understand what a good guy he
is.”
David
Haines was abducted in March last year by Isis while working in Syria for
Acted, an aid group working in refugee camps in the north of the country. He
was kidnapped near the Atmeh refugee camp near the Turkish border and the
Syrian province of Idlib. A video of his murder was released by Isis on 13
September.
Henning was
captured in December 2013, while helping with humanitarian relief. A video
showing his murder was released by Isis on 3 October.
Nicholas
Henin said watching the hostage crisis unfold was hard and his thoughts were
with the families.
“Families
always suffer even more than the hostages themselves. The worst thing is not to
know anything, and not to be able to do anything. Families deserve a lot of
respect and compassion.”
A memorial
service will be held for Alan Henning on Saturday in the Perth congregational
church. The Henning and Haines families have asked for donations to Hostage UK
rather than floral tributes.
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