Nicolas Henin describes ‘brutal’ life as an Islamic State hostage

Freed ... Nicolas Henin shared a cell with all four men beheaded by the Islamic State group. Picture: ITV Source: Supplied

A FREED Islamic State hostage who shared a cell with all four men beheaded by the jihadis says he is still haunted by his experiences in captivity.

In an interview with ITV, French journalist Nicolas Henin said the murders of former cellmates James Foley, Steven Sotloff, David Haines and Alan Henning had brought back “brutal” memories.
Though he was released with other French hostages in April, Henin said he can’t shake the horrors of his time in Syria.
“Normally when you are released you are free — I’m not,” he said.
“My mind is still somewhere in a cell in Syria, and I can very much wake up one day with news that one of my former cellmates has been killed and this brings me back months before.”
Henin, who was captured in June last year, said he became close friends with his cellmates during his 10 months in captivity.

Murdered ... a frame from a video by Islamic State militants that purports to show the killing of taxi driver Alan Henning. Picture: AP Photo Source: AP

“We were sharing all of our lives,” he said. “There is no privacy when you are stuck together in a room for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We were having meals together, sleeping next to each other.
“We were having discussions about everything: life, hopes, expectations.”
Henin said he was particularly close with murdered Britons Haines and Henning.
“Alan Henning was someone who was a total innocent,” he said. “He didn’t go to make any money. Alan was a kind of teddy bear. Always willing to help the others. Giving his life.
“He decided one day to just give it, to dedicate to the others and these others were a bunch of Muslim friends who wanted, who started this action in Syria and he told us, ‘I was the only non-Muslim among these people but they were all my friends.’”

Converted to Islam ... Peter Kassig, now known as Abdul-Rahman Kassig, stands in front of a truck filled with supplies for Syrian refugees. Picture: AP Photo/Courtesy Kassig Family Source: AP

Henin’s other cellmates included John Cantlie and Abdul-Rahman Kassig (formerly known as Peter Kassig), who have since been threatened with murder in IS propaganda videos.
Henin said Kassig, who converted to Islam in captivity, used religion to deal with the tragic situation.
“He thought Islam would give him the strength to deal with the difficulties of this captivity,” he said, describing the 26-year-old’s religious choice as sincere.
Henin said he feels for the families of the hostages, whose grief he cannot comprehend.
“Families always suffer even more than the hostages themselves,” he said.
“The worst thing is not to know anything, and not to be able to do anything.
“Families deserve a lot of respect and compassion.”