The parents of Peter Kassig, an American held captive by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, released a letter from their son in which he says he is “pretty scared to die” but takes comfort that he went out trying to “alleviate suffering.”
ISIS said in a beheading video last Friday that Kassig is its next target. The former U.S. Army ranger was in Syria doing humanitarian work before being captured in October 2013.
{mosads}His parents, Ed and Paula, on Sunday night released a letter they received from him in June.
“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,” he writes.
“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,” he continues.
Kassig converted to Islam last year and now goes by the first name Abdul-Rahman. His parents said in a statement released along with the letter that “his journey toward Islam began before he was taken captive.”
“Along with his Muslim colleagues, he observed the month-long Ramadan fast in July-August 2013 prior to his capture, and spoke of the great impact this spiritual practice had on him.”
Kassig made reference to his new faith in the letter received in June.
“In terms of my faith, I pray everyday and I am not angry about my situation in that sense,” he wrote. “I am in a dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief.”