FISHERS, Ind. (AP) – The executive director of the Islamic Society of North America is urging people to show their support for an American aid worker being held by the Islamic State.

Following a Friday prayer service Friday at the Alhuda Foundation in Fishers, Hazem Bata urged supporters for Peter Kassig, who converted to Islam while in captivity and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman Kassig, tweet #justiceforabdulrahmankassig at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Kassig's father, Ed, told those gathered Friday that it distressed his son to see suffering in any life form. Kassig called his son courageous, saying: “When others headed for the beach, he headed for Beirut.”

He urged people to pray for his son and those he strived to serve.

Kassig was captured in Syria last year. He has been threatened with beheading.