Islamic State says will crucify Indian priest on Good Friday today

The news of the crucifixion first appeared on a South African-based religious group's Facebook. 

IndiaToday.in

New Delhi, March 25, 2016 | Edited by Liu Chuen Chen | UPDATED 14:08 IST

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An Indian Catholic priest, who is reportedly under the captivity of the ISIS in Yemen, could possibly be crucified on Good Friday. Religious groups claim that Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was taken by gunmen when they attacked an old age home on March 4, may face crucifixion today.

The news of the crucifixion first appeared on a South African-based religious group's Facebook. The post read, "Was informed that the Salesian priest, Father Tom who was kidnapped from the Missionaries of Charity Home in Yemen is being tortured and is going to be crucified on Good Friday. This calls for serious concerted prayers from all of us."

While no one has officially claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, the religious group said that on March 20, they received information that the priest was being tortured under capture and could possibly be crucified on Good Friday.

However, members of Father Uzhunnalil's church dismissed the concerns as mere "rumours". They also said that they were yet to receive any information about the priest's whereabouts.

Father Mathew Valarkot told Catholic news source UCANews: "We have absolutely no information. Even today we do not know who has taken him and what their motives are...because no one has claimed responsibility. These are all rumours."

Four gunmen attacked an old people's home in the Yemeni port of Aden, killing at least 15 people, including four Christian nuns from India, local officials and medical sources said. A Yemeni security official said: "According to our information, the extremists who attacked the elderly care home in Aden have kidnapped priest Tom Uzhunnalil, a 56-year-old Indian, who was taken to an unknown location."

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said that the ministry's camp office in Djibouti was trying to ascertain the whereabouts of Father Tom Uzhunnalil and secure his release.