IS crucifies Indian priest in Yemen, reports claim

Father Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Catholic priest kidnapped earlier this month during a raid on an old people’s home in Yemen by terrorists, was reportedly crucified on Friday, according to an Austrian archbishop.

Several reports in news outlets linked to the church quoted Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna as saying during Easter vigil mass that Uzhunnalil had been executed by the Islamic State just as the Romans had crucified Jesus Christ. The Washington Times too reported on the matter.

However, a senior official of the external affairs ministry said in New Delhi that there was “no independent confirmation” of the development. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said the government was making “all efforts” to secure his release.

Officials of the church in India said they were hoping the reports about Uzhunnalil were incorrect and that he could be rescued. Representatives of the Salesian priest’s order in Bengaluru too have said they have no information on his fate.

Uzhunnalil, 55, belongs to Ramapuram village in Kerala’s Kottayam district. He was abducted when suspected IS fighters stormed the old people’s home in the Yemeni port city of Aden on March 4 and gunned down 16 people, including an Indian nun. The home was being run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.