The parents of an Indiana man beheaded by Islamic terrorists this weekend say they are “heartbroken” about their son’s death, but proud of him “for living his life according to his humanitarian calling.”
Ed and Paul Kassig referred to their son by his Muslim name, Abdul-Raham Kassig. Kassig was a former Army Ranger who converted to Islam and became a humanitarian worker in Syria.
He was taken hostage last year by the Islamic jihadist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and his death was revealed a video early Sunday.
The Kassigs said their son was drawn to ease the suffering in war-torn Syria and that he took leave from Butler University to help displaced people there.
Here is the family’s statement:
“We are heartbroken to learn that our son, Abdul-Rahman Peter Kassig, has lost his life as a result of his love for the Syrian people and his desire to ease their suffering. Our heart also goes out to the families of the Syrians who lost their lives, along with our son.
“Fed by a strong desire to use his life to save the lives of others, Abdul-Rahman was drawn to the camps that are filled with displaced families and to understaffed hospitals inside Syria. We know he found his home amongst the Syrian people, and he hurt when they were hurting.
“As he wrote in March 2012, in a letter announcing he was taking a leave of absence from Butler University to serve the Syrian people:
‘Here, in this land, I have found my calling. … I do not know much. Every day that I am here I have more questions and less answers, but what I do know is that I have a chance to do something here, to take a stand. To make a difference.’
“We are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling. We will work every day to keep his legacy alive as best we can.
“We remain heartbroken, also, for the families of the other captives who did not make it home safely. The families of James Foley, Steven Sotloff, David Haines, and Alan Henning remain in our daily thoughts and prayers, and we pray for the safe return of all remaining captives held by all sides of the Syrian civil war.
“We remain eternally grateful for the many, many words of support and prayers from all over the world on our son’s behalf. We ask people to continue to pray for the safe return of all captives being held unjustly and all people being oppressed around the world, and especially for the people of Syria, a land our son loved.”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in honor of Abdul-Rahman Kassig be made to the Syrian American Medical Society, which is working to meet the medical needs of Syrians displaced and injured by war:
SAMS Foundation
3660 Stutz Dr. Suite 100
Canfield Ohio 44406
www.sams-usa.net
