Will his conversion save his life? After all, the Qur’an forbids Muslims to kill other Muslims (4:92). And so it is possible that the Islamic State jihadis will spare Kassig, but it is also possible that they will decide that as someone whom they perceive to be an agent of an enemy Infidel power, he must be executed anyway. “‘I believe in hopeless causes’: American ISIS captive Peter Kassig described how he felt a calling to help wounded Syrian refugees – just one year before he was captured by Islamic militants and became a Muslim,” by Chris Spargo, Daily Mail, October 4, 2014 (thanks to all who sent this in):
American war vet-turned-aid-worker Peter Kassig talked about his hopes and dreams, and what motivated him to return to the Middle East as a medical worker, in an inspiring 2012 profile.
Sitting down with CNN Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon, the Indianapolis, Indiana, native referred to himself as a ‘hopeless romantic’ and ‘idealist,’ eager to do as much as he could with his life.
The 26-year-old has been held captive by ISIS for the past year, and the terrorist organization is now threatening to kill him in response to increased attacks on the group by the United States.
‘The way I saw it, I didn’t have a choice. This is what I was put here to do,’ the young man told CNN of his decision to travel to Beirut and help Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon.
He then added, ‘I guess I am just a hopeless romantic, and I am an idealist, and I believe in hopeless causes.’A member of the U.S. Army Rangers, he was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and honorably discharged for medical reasons after a brief tour….
U.S. officials confirmed yesterday that Kassig was being held by Islamic State militants but declined to give any more details of his capture.
His family said in a statement that they have stayed silent about this news ‘at the wish of those who have held their son.’
They also revealed that their son had converted to Islam while being held hostage.
Former hostages told the family that Kassig’s new faith has given him comfort during his long captivity….
Don McKellar says
Since when has being a moslem stopped one from being murdered by another moslem in the name of glorious jihad?
The only thing that’s going to slow down his murder will be the bombing campaign. It appears it’s disrupting the video production schedule — though obviously not the ISIS advance. How much is America paying to have the production of these videos slow down? $800 million so far? Complete insanity.
jihad3tracker says
Yes, complete insanity sums up our current reality.
But that’s what happens when my fellow Americans & Western Europeans are too goshdamn lazy to get off their lardbucket asses, and take time away from whatever sludge is on TV, to learn truth.
Now, however, even encephalic citizens of our IQ-challenged republic are starting to “get it”.
Ken Ohl says
No. The only way this will come to and end is when we read about one thousand ISIL forces being killed every day for about 30 days. You win a war by killing the enemy not by destroying their equipment. Semper Fi
Dave says
The problem ain’t ISIS. It’s Islam. ISIS represents Islam, and has many, many Quranic quotes that the taqiyya-mongers hide away behind falsified statements of “peace”, “love”, and “tolerance” in order to present an image of Islam that doesn’t offend Western sensitivities.
ISIS the true face of Islam, and every Muslim that ever went to a mosque knows this. When Mohammed is insulted, even slightly, Muslims violently take to the streets and scream while destroying public and private property alike. But when ISIS comes, we don’t see any of that! Hence, the conclusion is reached that Muslims support it, because if they didn’t they would be very vocal about it. And they aren’t.
As for those “innocent” Muslims, there are none. If they don’t agree with the ideology, let them renounce Islam. If they agree, then they’ll burn. If they’re somewhere in the middle, well, in war (which this is. A war of civilizations.) there ain’t no middle grounds.
To those who will undoubtedly say “Well, Christianity and Judaism killed people too!”: Islam means submission, and their goal is to establish a worldwide Caliphate under their twisted Sharia, and kill anyone who disagrees with them (and a fair amount of those who agree with them, too). You can’t take away the evil from the Islam, just like you can’t take away the leaves, branches, roots, and trunk from a tree and still call it a tree. Muslims follow Islam. Islam calls for our subjugation and death. Muslims call for our subjugation and death. It’s that simple, and overcomplicating the issue is counterproductive.
Robert says
Do you mind if I ask you: why did you (USA) then bomb the Serbs who were fighting the Islam, defending their lives and heritage, already decimated by Muslims over the centuries? Why did you let those Satan’s servants Clinton-Albright bomb us. What we’ve ever done to you, except being your allies in both great wars. Just remember “Operation Halyard”.
jimmy says
you are a 100% correct Dave, there is no in between they are either for Muhammad or against him simple as that
Sohail says
Dear Misguided Ignorant Dave,
Despite your shortcomings and failure to understand the concept of Islam as a way of life, encompassing peace and embodiment of divinity, allow me to show you video ( yes factual evidence) of Islam in practice. If you believe in the dark, you must without question believe in the light, ying and yang. Let me show you video of ppl possessed and how the power of just words from our glorious Koran can release an inner demon. At the very least, think about it
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24KVjwqE0s0aluiSpmbOrg
nacazo says
Since Sicily was at some point invaded by Muslims, I wonder if the mafia got inspiration from islam.
1- you can only join the mafia, if you try to leave you must be killed.
2- you can pay protection money to the mafia and feel yourself subdued.
3 – if you, don’t join the mafia nor pay the protection money, you must be killed.
Burt says
You might have something there. Reminds me of that great scene with Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken… True Romance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZMICczOzfQ
African American JW’s I’m sure you rise above the obviously offensive terms No offence intended.(unless your a Jihadee) and also expletive not deleted alert.
Covadonga says
People who haven’t seen the movie should know the context first, or the scene won’t make much sense.
Spoiler alert for film True Romance!
I only saw it once, many years ago, but think this will fill in the blanks:
Christian Slater went to a seedy place to grab his girlfriend, who was being held by criminals and, I think, forced by them to work as a prostitute. He broke her out successfully, and they fled somewhere to get beyond her captors’ reach, so that they could start a new life together. Hence the title of the film.
During the escape, they accidentally wind up carrying a large sum of Mafia cash, which they don’t even know about.
Afraid of the pimps tracking them, they tell know one where they are going, except the Christian Slater character’s father, played by Dennis Hopper.
The father is a washed-up ex-cop, of weak character and dubious reputation. He is long past being loyal to anything in the world, except to his son.
Christopher Walken plays the consigliere sent by the Mafia to recover the cash. He tracks down the father, and assumes, correctly, that he knows the son’s destination. Walken makes it clear that his men will torture the father until he gives up his son.
To the father, it is obvious that his son and the son’s new bride will be murdered in revenge for leaving with the cash, if they are caught by the mafiosi. Knowing his own weakness, the father is deathly afraid of breaking under interrogation.
Peter Buckley says
How Muhammad discovered Stockholm Syndrome:
http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/mohammeds-greatest-discovery-part-1/
Burt says
It pretty much looked like Alan Henning converted to Islam too, prompting quite a pleading from a lot of extremists for his release. Didn’t save his kneck! An American has frankly even less chance of surviving at the hands of a British demonic jihadee who has been carrying out these killings. (Personally I have avoided everyone of these videos.) These people went to Syria full of the media hype about an Arab spring. They learn the worst way the truth about the nature of the beast we face. The media and western governments still don’t get it.
These dummys becoming converts show me the fate of a de-Christianised West imbecilicly walking into their Sharia state future unless they face facts, declare Islam not to be compromised with in any shape or form.
Cameron and British Newspaper editors crowing “Happy Eid to Muslims all over the world” the very day Henning got his head hacked off is just too obscene!
Charles Martel says
I can’t blame these poor people who convert (or pretend to convert) to this filthy perversion of a ‘religion’. Can you imagine the strain they are under? Let no one judge them. A Christian could never do such a thing, of course, but most young westerners are not Christian any more, so why shouldn’t they dissemble? In their hearts they must now loathe Allah and Mahommed and the devil’s own religion which Mohammed founded.
If they ever get out alive, I hope they devote the rest of their lives to exposing Allah as the Father of Lies, helping to save poor Muslims from his clutches, and teaching that ‘No one comes to the Father except through Me’, the Prince of Peace. The onslaught of Mahommedanism may be the only way to guide westerners back into their ancestral religion, Catholic Christianity. Our inspiration in this struggle should be St Francis of Assisi, Charles Martel and Jan Sobieski. We have nothing to learn from the appeasing dimwitted dhimmi Obama and Cameron.
Buraq says
His parents said he converted to Islam after being kidnapped by Muslims. So, either it’s a move to avoid problems, or the much vaunted ‘no compulsion in religion’ mantra has been, once more, contradicted.
Sadly, either way, it won’t save him.
Clowns!
Mac-101 says
But it will condemn his soul to eternal damnation since he renounced Jesus Christ as the SON of G-d. Next, how many will take the Mark of da Beast once it becomes mandatory!
Jen says
To be honest, I think any loving God would understand the horrid situation that he’s in. He must be scared witless. He could have renounced Jesus Christ in his words but not in his heart.
Anushirvan says
Indeed, this can go either way. But I doubt he’s going to live !
One of the most authoritative Salafists, Sa’id bin Ali bin Wahf Al-Qahtani, former student of Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, wrote a few essays on why Muslims should distance themselves from any association with infidels. (al wala wal bara)
In “Al-Wala’ Wa’l-Bara’ According to the ‘Aqeedah of the Salaf, Part 2”, he lists “Twenty Forms of Alliance with the Disbelievers” Muslims should refrain from.
1. Contentment with the disbelievers
2. Reliance on the disbelievers
3. Agree with Points of Disbelief
4. Seeking the affection of the disbelievers
5. Inclining towards the disbelievers
6. Flattery of the Disbeliever’s faith
7. Taking of Disbelievers as Friends
8. Obedience to the Disbelievers
9. To Sit with Disbelievers who Ridicule the Qur’an
10. To Give the Disbelievers Authority over Muslims
11. Trusting the Disbelievers
12. To Express Pleasure with the Actions of the Disbelievers
13. To Draw Near to the Disbelievers
14. To Aid the Disbelievers in Wrongdoing
15. To Seek the Advice of Disbelievers
16. To Honour the Disbelievers
17. To Live amongst the Disbelievers
18. To Collude with the Disbelievers
19. To Revile the Muslims and Love the Disbelievers
20. To Support the Ideologies of the Disbelievers
Most Salafists are probably well acquainted with Qahtani’s writings on al wala wal bara. They’ll probably find fault with Kassig’s conversion.
eib says
1. He is an American.
2. He white (as they would say), and
3. His loyalty will always be suspect.
Racism and religious hatred are central to Islam.
Bobby says
And the leader of ISIS is “white” is he not
Salah says
“..the terrorist organization is now threatening to kill him in response to increased attacks on the group by the United States.”
Funny Islam!
First, they kill. Then, we react to the killings. Then, they threaten to kill again because we’ve reacted to the first killings!!!
Who said “There’s no fun in Islam”?
Nonbeliever says
“Former hostages told the family that Kassig’s new faith has given him comfort during his long captivity….”
Yes, it is SOOO comforting to be a member of a cult that has kidnapped you and now threatens to kill you in a most horrible manner.
Sorry for this kid, but that’s just STUPID.
Wayne says
A true Moslem wields the sword. So of he kills for Islam then he is true. Otherwise, he is false Moslem and can be sent to allah for allah to judge if the kalif wished.
kash says
Yet another demonstration of how the cancer of Islam spreads- not through attraction or persuasion, but fear.
Farside says
This is very Apocalypse now of him
Arkanthus says
Mainstream Islam in its heyday was pure nihilism of power. This pseudo religion only serves power interests from the beginning, nothing spiritual about it. In fact, the more spiritual fringes like Sufism are persecuted by the mainstream for this very reason. I hope his life will be spared but I am skeptical.
mach37 says
What good does it do to convert to Islam, if the Islamic leaders declare your conversion invalid – not in “good faith?” There seems to be no test of a convert’s intentions other than what the men with the swords THINK their intentions are. That is frequently shown when some Muslims of an out-of-favor sect are declared apostates, or simply non-believers and summarily executed by the Muslims With the Swords.
Twostellas says
There are plenty of people who would appreciate and are in need of this man’s, and others like him, help. In countries where you don’t have to worry about being kidnapped and beheaded in furtherance of Islam. Or be looked down upon because you are a non-Muslim and sold out to the highest bidder, because your life means nothing to these supremacists. It’s just a shame this good man wasn’t able to help where he could live another day to help people who didn’t view him as unclean or his help as owed to them as his betters.
duh_swami says
I read a hadith where a warrior reported to Mahound that he had killed a convert. When Mahound asked him why he did that, the warrior said, ‘I didn’t believe he was sincere’.
Harry North says
When you choose to swim with crocodiles, eventually you get eaten…
Nelson Abdullah says
American captive of Islamic State, Peter Kassig, has converted to Islam. Just like with Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl, that single fact is the best way to get Barack Hussein Obama to help.
Leslie says
If his life is hinging on the fact that the Koran forbids Muslims to kill other Muslims, I would say there is not much hope for him. They are constantly killing each other, so I guess it’s really all about a political ideology rather than a religion.
Talal says
I accepted the Quran, accepted Islam, and there was no ISIS.
If you want to know why, read the Quran.
Quran is here http://www.ClearQuran.com