Priest seeks govt’s help for release from IS

DEC 26: An Indian Catholic priest abducted in Yemen by IS this year has made a heart wrenching appeal to Pope Francis and the Indian government in a video footage to secure his release from his captors.

“If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value,” said priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil in a weak voice in the video, aired by various Kerala-based news channels.

“Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating,” he said in the video, a day after Christmas.

Father Uzhunnalil, who looked very weak, appeared to be reading out from a text placed before him. The veracity of the video, which was uploaded from You Tube and Facebook, could neither be verified nor was the period when it was shot known. Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden. He claimed his captors have made many contacts with the Government of India — President and Prime Minister.

“I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard,” he said.

He said reports had said everything has been done to get his release, “but in reality nothing” has been done.

Father Uzhunnalil said a news reporter abducted in the Middle East was released as she was from France.

“I am from India and not considered. Dear people, I pray you all, ask you all, beg you all to do your might to help me to save my life. I need hospitalisation soon. Please come to my help quickly,” he said.

The Union Government has said efforts are being made to secure Uzhunnalil’s release, but such attempts take time. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established in Yemen.

Swaraj had said it takes more time

If I were an European priest, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities and people and would have got me released Dear people, I pray you all, ask you all, beg you all, to do your might to help to save my life

to secure release of people who are held captive and asked the MPs to keep “faith” in government’s efforts to trace the abducted priest.

On March 4, the Salesian Order priest from Kerala was kidnapped after IS terrorists barged into a Missionaries of Charity care home in Aden of which he was the caretaker and shot dead many people, including four nuns, one of them from India.

“You are aware of the circumstances currently prevailing in Yemen where fighting is going on with no central authority in that country,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said following the release of the video. “With regard to the safe release of Father Tom who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities. Efforts continue in this regard,” he said.

FATHER THOMAS UZHUNNALLIL