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….