‘Crucified’ on Good Friday, how Father Tom Uzhunnalil came back from dead
After 16 months of captivity, Father Tom Uzhunnalil is a free man today.
The Catholic priest from Kottayam, Kerala who was kidnapped in March last year has been freed with help from Oman.
Ever since his abduction on March 4 from an old people’s home in Yemen’s Aden, there were various reports that circulated the news of his death.
Father Tom was the only supervisor of the brutal attack in Aden, purportedly by the ISIS, which killed 16 people including 4 Indian nuns.
Around 20 days later, on March 25, there were local reports that the Indian priest has been crucified on Good Friday.
Even as the global outrage intensified after the reported crucifixion, the Indian authorities maintained that Father Tom is safe.
On April 3, India issued a statement saying that Father Tom is very much alive and safe.
The case hit international headlines after Pope Francis appealed for Father Tom’s release.
In his Sunday Regina Coeli address at St Peter’s Square on April 10, the Pope said, “I renew my appeal for the freeing of all kidnapped persons in armed conflict zones. In particular, I wish to remember Salesian priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Aden, Yemen last March 4.”
Around July, a video of a …read more
