The terrorist organization kidnapped Uzhannalil March 4 during a
raid in Yemen at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. "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," a Yemeni
security official told the Daily Mail at the time.
Though the reported kidnapping and crucifixion of Rev. Thomas Uzhunnalil
on Good Friday is still making the rounds, some church leaders are denying this
rumor. The Indian priest kidnapped by suspected Islamic State militants on
March 4 is probably still alive, church officials have said, despite reports
that he was crucified on Friday.
Father Tom Uzhunnalil, 56, was captured when militants overran a
missionary home for elderly people in Aden, Yemen, where he worked. Sixteen
people, including four nuns, were killed in the attack. No confirmed news has
since emerged of Uzhunnalil's fate, though rumours that he was being tortured
and would be crucified on Good Friday emerged last week following comments
allegedly made by Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna.
According to The Telegraph, Uzhunnalil's death was then reported by a
Dubai-based prayer group with close ties to the home.
However, these rumours have since been denied by church leaders.
Bishop Paul Hinder of Southern Arabia told the Catholic News Agency on Monday that there are
"strong indications that Father Tom is still alive in the hands of the
kidnappers".
"I have no confirmation that anything happened Good
Friday," he added. "Cardinal Schönborn has already corrected his
statement, which he had made on the basis of the wrong statement of Archbishop
Moras in Bangalore. Certain media in India are too nervous and curious and not
aware that they are playing with the life of Father Tom."
Hinder said he was unable to give further information for fear
of endangering Uzhunnalil's life.
Hinder's statement follows a similar denial from the Salesian
order in Bangalore, to which Uzhunnalil belongs.
Spokesman for Father Mathew Valarkot last week described the
reports of Uzhunnalil's crucifixion as "unconfirmed and
unverifiable". He said: "We, Salesians, are not responsible for the
content or its authenticity.
"In this context, we reiterate that till date no further
information has come to us from credible and authoritative sources regarding
the whereabouts or wellbeing of Fr Tom. Therefore we earnestly appeal to all
concerned to desist from forwarding all such unsolicited and misleading
messages and spreading false rumours.
The official statement from the Salesians of Don Bosco says the
credible sources for news about Uzhunnalil are the Indian Government's Ministry
of External Affairs, Archbishop Paul Hinder, the Salesian Province of Bangalore
and the Salesian Congregation in Rome.
Most recently it has been reported that the Indian government has
received a huge ransom demand via video for Fr Tom's release. None of these
credible sources supports this.
The statement says: "Please do not give credence to reports
coming from other sources (eg. some convent of sisters, other
bishops/cardinals/priests,astrologers/godpersons/newsanchors/politicians, etc.)
unless the news has been confirmed by any of the above-mentioned primary
sources."
It continues: "Spreading false rumours and unconfirmed
reports might actually jeopardise the safety of Fr Tom.
"The best that we can do at present is to pray to the
Almighty for him, his close relatives and all persons who are persecuted for
their faith."
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India said in a press
statement reported by the National Catholic Register: "A lot of rumors are
being spread in the social media that Father Tom was subjected to cruel torture
and then crucified on Good Friday. This gruesome news is being widely
circulated, both at home and abroad."
It added: "This really upsets us and brings agony to the
relatives and concern for all."
"In the meantime, let us continue to pray for Fr Tom so
that the Lord may protect him from all harm and relieve him from the clutches
of the evil forces sooner than later."
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