Video released of priest kidnapped in Yemen, but no new information
July 20, 2016
The release of a video showing Father Tom Uzhunnalli, the Salesian priest who was kidnapped in Yemen in March, provides "nothing new" about his condition, and does not even prove that he is still alive, reports Msgr. Paul Hinder, the apostolic vicar for the Yemen region.
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The video shows the Indian-born priest, who is believed to be a prisoner of the Islamic State, but does not provide any evidence of when the image was recorded. Father Uzhunnalli shows signs of mistreatment.
"We hope that he is alive," Msgr. Hinder told the AsiaNews service. He added, in a comment to the Fides service, that he thinks the kidnapped priest is alive. But he admitted that "there is no certain information."
Father Uzhunnalli was taken prisoner on March 4, during a raid on a nursing home in Aden in which four Missionaries of Charity were killed. In May there were reports that he was alive and healthy, and authorities were negotiating for his release. But there have been no confirmed reports about his condition.
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Further information:
- Msgr. Hinder: doubts over video of Salesian kidnapped in Yemen; hopes he is still alive (AsiaNews)
- A photo of the Salesian kidnapped in Aden "posted" on his Facebook account. Bishop Hinder: I think he is still alive (Fides)
- Priest kidnapped in Yemen is alive, negotiations underway for his release (CWN, 5/18)
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