As Hoosiers try to cope with the death of Indianapolis native Abdul-Rahman Kassig, a full review of the United States' hostage policy is underway.
After ISIS released a video Sunday showing they'd murdered Kassig, the White House revealed President Obama had already asked for the country's hostage policy to be examined.
Hostage Situations Difficult For Families And Government
For six weeks, Ed and Paula Kassig did everything they could to try and convince the so-called Islamic State to release their son.
They reached out to the militants on social media and put out a video statement, pleading for them to spare Abdul-Rahman's life.
"We implore his captors to show mercy and use their power to let our son go," Paula Kassig said in the video.
But, they didn't let him go. The day after ISIS released the video revealing they'd beheaded Abdul-Rahman, his parents spoke to the media at their Indianapolis church.
"A while ago we were informed that our beloved son, Abdul-Rahman, no longer walks the earth," Ed Kassig said.
ISIS captured Abdul-Rahman in October 2013, while he was delivering medical supplies in Syria. He moved to the region to start his own aid organization called SERA.
The United States government has remained silent on any efforts they might have taken to try and secure his release.
But the beheadings of Kassig and journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff are causing the country to re-examine its policies on how it deals with hostages taken overseas.
The White House says the Department of Defense, State Department and FBI are all involved in the review.
"This review does not include a reconsideration of a longstanding policy of the United States government that ransoms should not be paid to terrorist organizations that are holding hostages," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said during a press briefing. "But, this is obviously an issue that the President takes very seriously."
President Obama won't budge on the issue of ransom because he, along with several other politicians, argues negotiating with terrorists would encourage them to capture Americans.
... Knowing that terrorist organizations can extract a ransom from the United States if they take a hostage only puts American citizens at great risk
-White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest
"We don't want to put other American citizens at even greater risk when they're around the globe, and that knowing that terrorist organizations can extract a ransom from the United States if they take a hostage only puts American citizens at greater risk," Earnest said.
Experts don't expect any dramatic changes to come out of the review. But, as terrorist organizations like ISIS evolve, they say the country's hostage policy could use some updating.
"Anything we do to strengthen our ability to prevent a capture makes a lot of sense," said Lee Hamilton, director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. "Yet, another area that we need to look at is our ability to use special forces to go after an American captive. That's a very difficult exercise, may pay off in a dramatic way or it can sometimes leave you with a tragic result. But, I think everybody would agree that we have to at least strengthen our ability to use operation forces if the situation's right. To go in and try to release an American captive."
Abdul-Rahman's Legacy
While Washington considers whether to make changes, Hoosiers who showed their support for the Kassig family during Abdul Rahman's captivity are coming to grips with the loss of one of their own.
Just as Abdul-Rahman turned to Islam for comfort while in captivity, the Kassigs are relying on their faith to help them work through their grief.
"Our hearts are battered, but they will mend," Paula said during a press conference. "The world is broken, but it will be healed in the end. And, good will prevail as the one God of many names will prevail."
Throughout the long weeks they waited for word of their son, the Kassigs say they received overwhelming support – evident by the hundreds who showed up to vigils in Abdul-Rahman's honor.
"I think the family's not only felt the support of this congregation, but as well as the Islamic community, and worldwide people telling them stories of ways that he has made a difference, either physically or in person or just his story has impacted their life," said Pat Engel, Diaconal Minister of Epworth United Methodist Church.
In June, Kassig's parents received a letter from their son that a freed captive managed to smuggle out when he was released.
In it, the 26-year-old wrote, "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."
Friends and family say Abdul-Rahman made more of a difference than he could ever imagine.
People are seriously thinking about what they're called to do. So, that's his legacy is that it's kind of a kick in the pants to the rest of us.
-Pat Engel, Diaconal Minister Epworth United Methodist Church
"When we were at the prayer service in Fishers at the mosque, when his father was speaking I leaned to his mother and said, 'Your son went to Syria to make a difference, but he's begun to make a difference here. He's begun to open dialogue between the Muslim community and the Christian community.' And, just people are seriously thinking about what they're called to do. So, that's his legacy is that it's kind of a kick in the pants to the rest of us," Engel said.
Several memorial services are planned for Kassig over the weekend.
On Friday, the Al Huda Center in Fishers is holding a Muslim funeral prayer service at 1:10 p.m.
The Muslim Alliance of Indiana is holding a prayer service at the Indiana Interchurch Center in Indianapolis at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
And, the Kassig family will hold a Muslim-Christian service in honor of Abdul-Rahman at Butler University Sunday at 5 p.m.
The Kassig family's spokeswoman says Abdul-Rahman's aid organization ceased operations after he was captured in 2013. She says it will not be able to resume operations.
