Free Father Tom: In new video, Indian priest held captive by ISIS pleads freedom

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Free Father Tom
Free Father Tom

Los Angeles : An Indian Catholic priest who is being held hostage by the Islamic State on Wednesday desperately pleaded for freedom saying, “If I were European, I would be taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered of much value.”

The priest Tom Uzhunnalil added, “Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating... I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously. 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."

In a video released by the ISIS, he also called on Pope Francis to do more to save him and begged, governments to help him quickly.

According to reports, the priest was working in a retirement home in Yemen, but in March this year, militants stormed the building, slaughtering 15 people, including four nuns and capturing him.

However, Vatican and Indian government officials insist that they have been making efforts to secure his release from the terrorist fanatics but in vain.

Earlier this year, the Pope in his address to Catholics broadcast to the world demanded that ISIS set him free but reports of the Archbishop of Vienna Christoph Schonborn declaring Father Tom as crucified on Good Friday diminished the rescue efforts.

Catholics around the globe have been urged to pray for Father Tom.