KOTTAYAM: Salesian priest Tomy George, alias Fr Tom Uzhannalil, who was abducted by Islamic State militants from Yemen in March 2015, has made an emotive plea to the Indian Government and the Church to take earnest efforts to free him. Fr Tom,55, made the appeal in a five-minute video that was posted on YouTube, later aired by news channels. The bearded priest, who is seen in a grey sweatshirt, looked visibly pallid in the clip.
The priest, who was abducted when IS fighters stormed the old people’s home in the port city of Aden on March 4, made a desperate prayer to the Indian President, Prime Minister as well as Pope Francis and the Christian community across the globe to work together for his release.
The new video clip, which was posted on the FB page of one Saleh Salem on Christmas Day, Fr Tom also points fingers at the Central Government and the global Catholic community for doing little for his release.
“If I were a European, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities and people and would have got me released. I am a priest from India and perhaps, therefore, I am not considered of much value. I am sad about this,” he said haltingly, pointing out that a French woman, reportedly kidnapped in the Yemeni city of Sanaa, had been freed because she was a Westerner.
Addressing President of India and Prime Minister he said: “I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in his regard.” Though there were news reports that “everything is being done to get me released quickly. In reality, nothing seems to have happened,” he said in a frail voice.
He added that though, he was kidnapped while working in Yemen as a priest, neither Pope Francis nor Bishop of Abu Dhabi had done anything for his release and requested his fellow Christians in India, bishops and priests to get him released.
“Pope Francis, holy father, please take care of my life. All other bishops all over the world, please save my life. My health is deteriorating. I may need to be hospitalised soon,” he said, requesting all the governments to take up his case on humanitarian consideration.
Authorities are yet to check the veracity of the video. Fr Uzhunnalil hails from Ramapuram in Kottayam.