UAE church says it is negotiating the release of abducted Indian priest

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia in UAE said that it is involved in the negotiations for the release of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped by suspected members of the Islamic State in Yemen last March.

A video of the priest emerged last week in which he asked the Indian government, Pope Francis and Bishop Paul Hinder to help secure his release.

The vicariate, which is based at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, said that the man in the video bears a close resemblance to Uzhunnalil, but its source, date and the circumstances of its creation were unknown.

"Even though we have no information about Father Tom's present whereabouts, we have strong indications to believe that he is still alive," the vicariate said in a statement, as quoted by The Times of India.

It further noted that Hinder, who is the current Vicar Apostolic of the vicariate, is leading the negotiations to secure the safe release of Uznhunnalil. The bishop has led calls for prayers throughout the churches under the jurisdiction of vicariate for the abducted priest. During the Christmas mass, he and thousands of worshippers prayed for Uzhunnalil's safety at the cathedral parish of St. Joseph's in Abu Dhabi.

"The Salesian Congregation to which Father Tom belongs and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India has been in touch with government channels," the statement continued.

Uzhunnalil, a priest from India's Kerala state, was abducted from an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in the southern Yemeni city of Aden. The militants killed 12 elderly people and four nuns during the raid.

The priest said in the video that he is "very sad and depressed" that nothing has been done to secure his freedom.

"If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value," Uzhunnalil remarked.

India's Minister of Exterior Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, said that the government is making all efforts to secure the release of Uzhunnalil.

"He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity," Swaraj said.