Islamic State hostage Kayla Mueller’s faith was so bold, so raw, so refreshing, 20/20 investigated her Christianity for an episode on the modern-day Stephen.
According to new information, fellow hostages are now speaking up about the kind of woman Mueller was: “She was always considerate of others, even though she herself was in a very difficult situation,” Frida Saide, one of three women from Doctors Without Borders who shared a cell with Mueller said.
“She was always concerned for other prisoners. She never stopped being concerned for the Syrian population living through just horrible things in this war and still are. She never stopped caring for others.”
Mueller was kidnapped by the Islamic State in 2013. After a furious email exchange, ISIS told her parents she was alive in 2014, but then airstrikes hit. Her death was announced in February 2015.
Despite rape, torture and further unthinkable abuse, Mueller’s fellow hostages says she refused to deny Christ and even witnessed to famed Islamic State executioner Jihadi John, who was dubbed one of “The Beatles.”
“One of the Beatles started to say, ‘Oh, this is Kayla, and she has been held all by herself. And she is much stronger than you guys. And she’s much smarter. She converted to Islam.’ And then she was like, ‘No, I didn’t,'” Former hostage Daniel Rye Ottosen, a Danish freelance photographer, told ABC News.
After her death, her parents released a letter a freed hostage had smuggled out:
Everyone, If you are receiving this letter it means I am still detained but my cell mates (starting from 11/2/2014) have been released.
I have asked them to contact you + send you this letter.
It’s hard to know what to say.
Please know that I am in a safe location, completely unharmed + healthy(put on weight in fact); I have been treated w/ the utmost respect + kindness. I wanted to write you all a well thought out letter (but I
didn’t know if my cellmates would be leaving in the coming days or the coming months restricting my time but primarily) I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time, just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears.
If you could say I have “suffered” at all throughout this whole experience it is only in knowing how much suffering I have put you all through; I will never ask you to forgive me as I do not deserve forgiveness.
I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else….+ by God + by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall.
I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful.
I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it. I pray each each day that if nothing else, you have felt a certain closeness + surrender to God as well + have formed a bond of love + support amongst one another…
I miss you all as if it has been a decade of forced separation. I have had many a long hour to think, to think of all the things I will do w/ Lex, our first family camping trip, the first meeting @ the airport.I have had many hours to think how only in your absence have I finally @ 25 years old come to realize your place in my life.
The gift that is each one of you + the person I could + could not be if you were not a part of my life, my family, my support. I DO NOT want the negotiations for my release to be your duty, if there is any other option
take it, even if it takes more time.
This should never have become your burden. I have asked these women to
support you; please seek their advice. If you have not done so already, [REDACTED] can contact [REDACTED] who may have a certain level of experience with these people.
None of us could have known it would be this long but know I am also fighting from my side in the ways I am able + I have a lot of fight left
inside of me.
I am not breaking down + I will not give in no matter how long it takes.
I wrote a song some months ago that says, “The part of me that pains the most also gets me out of bed, w/out your hope there would be nothing left…” aka - The thought of your pain is the source of my own, simultaneously the hope of our reunion is the source of my strength.
Please be patient, give your pain to God.
I know you would want me to remain strong.
That is exactly what I am doing.
Do not fear for me, continue to pray as will I + by God’s will we will
be together soon.
All my everything,
Kayla
The 20/20 episode premiered last week, but is available here.
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