Jihadi ideologue urges release of British aid worker

Renowned Jihadi ideologue, Abu Mohammed al-Maqdisi, has urged the Islamic State to release British aid worker, Alan Henning, as Islam forbids harming non-Muslims who work with relief agencies. Photo credit: PA/PA Wire

A renowned jihadi ideologue yesterday urged the Islamic State group to release British aid worker Alan Henning, saying Islam forbids harming non-Muslims who work with relief agencies.

Abu Mohammed al-Maqdisi, who was released by Jordan in June after serving a five-year sentence on terror charges, said in a statement posted on his website that non-Muslims who aid needy Muslims should be protected.

Al-Maqdisi said Henning worked with a charitable organisation led by Muslims which sent several aid convoys to help the Syrian people. 'Is it reasonable that his reward is being kidnapped and slaughtered?... He should be rewarded with thanks.

'We call on the (Islamic) State to release this man (Henning) and other aid group employees who enter the land of Muslims with a guarantee of protection... according to the judgment of sharia law,' he said, adding that he hoped to 'protect the image of Islamic sharia law from being disfigured.'

Sunday Independent