Family to hold public memorial service for Kassig

INDIANAPOLIS -- The parents of slain ISIS hostage and Indianapolis native Abdul-Rahman Kassig will hold a community memorial service Sunday in their son's honor, following two days of Muslim funeral services, a family spokeswoman announced.

The public is encouraged to attend.

Islamic State extremists on Sunday revealed that Kassig, formerly known as Peter, had been beheaded by the group known as ISIS or ISIL, after being held hostage for more than a year. Kassig, a humanitarian worker who studied political science at Butler University, converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman while in captivity.

Sunday's memorial service at Butler will be led by Christian and Muslim faith leaders and will feature tributes from Kassig's friends and mentors.

Kassig "approached life selflessly and courageously, and he upheld the Butler ideal of trying to make the world a better place," Butler President James M. Danko said. "The Butler community joins millions around the world in prayer and support for the Kassig family and for Abdul-Rahman's cause in the Middle East."

Maya Alshawa, president of Butler's Muslim Student Association, said the world "lost a hero" when Kassig was killed.

"He exemplified courageousness, selflessness, and humanity," she said. "We can learn from him, and live like him: with purpose. Abdul-Rahman was changing lives, and saving them."

Kassig, 26, founded an aid organization in 2012 to help Syrian refugees and was doing relief work in Syria when he was taken hostage by militants in October 2013.

Also on Wednesday, Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, honored Kassig from the Senate floor.

In his 15-minute speech, Donnelly reflected on Kassig's service to the U.S. as a former Army Ranger and to the world as a "man of peace and healing and caring."

"The intensity and focus and desire to make a difference was a hallmark of Peter's life, and it stands in stark contrast to the cruelty and disdain for human life of the ISIL terrorists who took Peter from us," Donnelly said.

The family also announced two Muslim funeral services for their son, scheduled for Friday and Saturday.