The daughter of beheaded Scot David Haines has revealed that learnings from the Quran and Christian hymns will be used to commemorate the aid worker’s life.
The remembrance service in Perth on Sunday will see representatives of the city’s Muslim community mix with the aid worker’s family and friends, marking the 10th anniversary of the atrocious murder by ISIS terrorists.
David’s daughter Bethany, who organised the event, said she hopes it will unite the community and act as a global reminder that fundamentalist terror should never be mistaken for religion.
The service will also feature her dad’s favourite song – “Far Away”, by rockers Nickleback.
Bethany said: I felt it was important to include a passage from the Quran as I wanted to show that my family and I believe that the men who committed these crimes had no connection to Islam.
“In simple words they were bad men who did bad things and tried to justify it by warping a religion.
“The people of Syria and Iraq have suffered most at the hands of ISIS and I have witnessed this first hand. My Dad did not view people by their religion and helped all of those that needed it, regardless of social class, religion or race.
“He was innocent and as the Quran states the killing of innocents is not condoned or encouraged.”
David was clothed in an orange suit when the four “Beatles” terrorists from ISIS murdered him – with a shocking video of the even posted on the internet.
The service at Perth Congregational Church, where David led a Cubs group, also features a poem, “When Tomorrow Starts Without Me” – about the loss of a loved one.
The passage from the Quran, 5:32, is expected to be read by a member of the local Muslim community.
It refers to words said by Allah, which denounce murder: “Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.”
around 3.50pm on Monday, October 21, 2024.
Bethany added: “The words are common to most religions and there is a universal belief that human beings should live in harmony.
“My dad was a believer in peace and he dedicated his life to helping people, so we want to get that message across.”
Bethany, 27, previously said she wanted to make it clear that her family have never connected what happened to David with Islam.
She said: “It was just a bunch of bad men doing bad things. Unfortunately, they twisted religion to do that and to justify what they did. They were terrorists, that’s it.”
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David was 44 when he was kidnapped then killed by Isis while working in Syria for a French aid agency.
He was paraded in a video released by Isis, wearing an orange jumpsuit, that showed the murder of hostage Steven Sotloff.
Bethany has vowed to travel to Syria to retrieve her father’s remains.
Other murder victims such as James Foley, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller will also be remembered at the event, which is expected to host guests at the Saints Club, which is connected to St Johnstone FC.
Bethany is raising cash for Hostage International, which supports the families of people in captivity, as well as freed hostages.