The parents of an American aid worker held hostage by Islamic State jihadists issued a video plea for their son's release on today, urging his captors to show mercy.
In a three-minute video posted on Youtube, parents Ed and Paula Kassig said their son Peter had dedicated his life to helping innocent victims of the Syrian conflict.
The 26-year-old former US soldier was shown at the end of an IS group video released on Friday which showed the murder of British aid worker Alan Henning.
"We implore his captors to show mercy and use their power to let our son go," Ed Kassig said, referring to his son by his adopted Islamic name of Abdul Rahman.
Paula Kassig, wearing a headscarf, revealed that she and her husband had received messages from their son during his captivity following his disappearance in Syria in October last year.
"Please know that we are all praying for you and your safe return. Most of all, know that we love you," she said.
