The American aid worker slain by ISIS in what the White House called “an act of pure evil” is being remembered Friday in his home state of Indiana. The Al Huba Foundation, an Islamic center in suburban Indianapolis, is hosting a service for Abdul-Rahman Kassig on Friday afternoon. Other public services are planned for Saturday at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Sunday at Butler University, where Kassig studied political science before working in Lebanon as a medical assistant and humanitarian worker.
Kassig — born Peter Kassig — was captured by ISIS in October 2013 while delivering relief supplies to refugees on the Syrian border. He converted to Islam while in captivity. The Kassig family had pleaded with ISIS on social media to have mercy on their son, but the 26-year-old former Army private was shown beheaded in a video released Sunday. The Kassigs are expected to attend Friday’s service at the Al Huba Foundation, which will include a sermon by prominent Syrian cleric Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi. “Abdul-Rahman is a Hoosier hero who gave his life to serve others, and he is an example and an inspiration for every Muslim,” said Shaker Rashid, an Al Huba spokesman.
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