Ed and Paula Kassig, parents of the 26-year-old Army Ranger currently held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), released the details of a June letter they received from their son about his captivity, reports Army Times.
Abdul-Rahman Kassig, born Peter Kassig, was captured in October 2013 while supplying humanitarian aid in Syria. According to last week’s video showing the murder of British aid worker Alan Henning, Kassig will be the next hostage to be beheaded by the terrorist group.
Kassig’s parents said the contents of the June letter illustrate their son’s strength of character, especially when faced with such a gruesome fate:
“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. I am very sad that all this has happened and for what all of you back home are going through. If I do die, I figure that at least you and I can seek refuge and comfort in knowing that I went out as a result of trying to alleviate suffering and helping those in need.”
Kassig is believed to have voluntarily converted to Islam sometime after his capture and spoke on his conversion within the letter.
“In terms of my faith, I pray every day and I am not angry about my situation in that sense. I am in a dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief.”
Ed and Paula Kassig released a video plea for the release of their son on Saturday.
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