World

American Held By ISIS Says He Is 'Scared To Die' In Letter

Abdul-Rahman Kassig's parents have released a letter he sent them in June. ISIS has named him as its next captive to be beheaded.

American Held By ISIS Says He Is 'Scared To Die' In Letter
WXIN

An Army Ranger turned aid worker from Indiana is being held by ISIS, and Sunday his parents released a letter from their son.

Twenty-six-year-old Abdul-Rahman Kassig apparently wrote his parents in June, telling them he was scared to die, but was at peace with his conversion to Islam. (Video via WXIN)

WXIN: "His friends say his journey toward Islam began before he was taken captive."

The first thing Kassig wrote to his parents was a thank you for being so supportive of him and everything they had taught him. He went on to write... 

KASSIG: "I am obviously pretty scared to die but the hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping, and wondering if I should even hope at all. "

His family said they decided to release the letter because they want the world to know why people care for and admire him. 

WTHR: "The terror group abducted him last year in Syria, that's where he was providing aid to war refugees through a humanitarian group that he started."

The Kassig family also released their own message on YouTube Saturday, after a year-long silence.  

ED KASSIG: "We implore his captors to show mercy and use their power to let our son go."

PAULA KASSIG: "Our hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom so we can hug you again."

Kassig was taken hostage by ISIS in October 2013. The terror group's last video message, which showed the beheading of another aid worker, Alan Henning, said Kassig would be next.