Families of murdered hostages call for unity

Alan Henning, 47, and David Haines, 44, were kidnapped in Syria last year. Today, more than 600 people attended a “service of thanksgiving and celebration for the life of David Haines”.

Henning’s widow Barbara and their two children travelled north to attend the service at Perth Congregational Church. Mrs Henning and Michael Haines, brother of David, held hands outside the church ceremony before going in for the service.

Michael Haines called on people to join together and “find a single act of unity” in the wake of the killing of his brother.

In a joint letter published in the Guardian newspaper Mr Haines and Mrs Henning called on people to come together in a bid to defeat the terrorists.

“Together we have the power to defeat the most hateful acts,” they said

“We condemn those who seek to drive us apart and spread hatred by attempting to place blame on Muslims and the Islamic faith for the actions of these terrorists,” the letter stated.

The pair said they have been overwhelmed by messages of support from around the world.

Celebration of life

As the service was a celebration of Mr Haines’ life, his family had encouraged people to come dressed in bright colours. One man in the congregation wore a colourful yellow Hawaiian-style shirt and red tartan trousers, while Michael Haines wore a green and purple kilt teamed with a purple T-shirt and black leather waistcoat.

Alan Henning, from Eccles, and David Haines, from Perth, were held hostage by the Islamic State group after being captured last year.

Henning was kidnapped last December in Syria where he was travelling as part of an aid convoy. Haines was taken hostage in March last year whilst working for an aid agency in the same country.

Prime Minister David Cameron described the murder of Mr Haines as “an act of pure evil” after Islamic State militants released a video showing his murder last month.

In a message recorded on the eve of the memorial service, Michael Haines said: “David would want us all to remember that extremism, terrorism and the mistreatment of people is not something that just happens to those thousands of miles away.

“It’s something that affects us all in the UK too. My brother’s killers want to hurt all of us and stop us believing in the very things which took David into conflict zones – charity and human kindness.

“I am calling on all of us – every community, every faith – in the coming weeks and months to find a single act of unity. One simple gesture, one act, one moment that draws people together.”