Alan Henning’s Wife Requests His Release In Response To Audio Clip Of Him Pleading For His Life

The wife of Alan Henning, a British hostage being held by the Islamic State group, said she received an audio clip of her husband “pleading for life.” The militant group, formerly known as ISIS, released a video on Sept. 13, threatening to kill Henning if UK Prime Minister David Cameron continued to support military action against the organization.

Barbara Henning reportedly said in a statement released through the UK Foreign Office on Tuesday that she is trying to reach out to the people holding her husband and plead for his release. According to reports, Barbara heard Alan's voice in the audio message, details of which were not released, apparently for the first time since he was kidnapped nine months ago. Henning's wife's request reportedly comes hours after a second video of a British journalist, John Cantlie, was released by the Islamic State group.

"Islamic State continue to ignore our pleas to open dialogue,” Barbara said, in a statement, according to BBC. "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.”

She also reportedly said in the statement that a Sharia court had found her husband “innocent of being a spy and declared (him) to be no threat.”

“I implore Islamic State to abide by the decisions of their own justice system,” Barbara reportedly added.

The 47-year-old father of two was kidnapped in December 2013 by fighters loyal to the Islamic State group. He had reportedly travelled to Syria to deliver humanitarian aid to locals displaced by the civil war in the region, which began in 2011.

"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,” Barbara reportedly said, in the statement, which is the second one released by the family of Henning in recent days. "Please release Alan."

Earlier, Barbara reportedly said that she had sent a message to the Islamic State group requesting the release of her husband, adding that she had received no response from them yet.

The video in which the militant group threatened to kill Henning, also depicted the beheading of David Haines, another British aid worker. The video was similar to those that showed the executions of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the Sunni extremist group.

Meanwhile, a recent video showing the kidnapped British journalist Cantlie included a reference to a speech made by U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this month, which suggested that the video was filmed after the U.S. announced airstrikes in Syria.