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Wife of hostage Alan Henning urges IS captors to release him

Barbara Henning, the wife of British hostage Alan Henning, has urged his Islamic State captors to "please release him, we need him back home".

The 47-year-old aid worker was captured by militants in Syria last year and has been threatened with death by his Islamic State captors.

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Wife 'receives audio' of Alan Henning 'pleading for his life'

The wife of Alan Henning has said in a statement that she has received audio of him pleading for his life.

Alan Henning pictured delivering aid to Syria, in a picture released by his family. Credit: Family handout

She said:

I am Barbara Henning the wife of Alan Henning. I have a further message for Islamic State.

An audio file of Alan pleading for his life has just been received by me. I and people representing me continue to reach out to those holding Alan. Islamic State continue to ignore our pleas to open dialogue.I have seen Muslims across the globe question Islamic State over Alan’s fate.

The voices of the people have spoken out loud and clear. He was working with Muslims to help the most vulnerable within Syria. Nothing has changed. He went to Syria to help his Muslim friends deliver much needed aid.

We are at a loss why those leading Islamic State cannot open their hearts and minds to the facts surrounding Alan’s imprisonment and why they continue to threaten his life.

I have been told that he has been to a Sharia Court and found innocent of being a spy and declared to be no threat. I implore Islamic State to abide by the decisions of their own justice system. Please release Alan.

– Barbara Henning

ITV News' Diplomatic Correspondent John Ray has been speaking to Alan Henning's family about their ordeal.

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