Memorial held for American hostage killed in Iraq
Delegation in Baghdad pleads for life of British captive
(CNN) -- A memorial was held Saturday for Jack Hensley, an American engineer who was beheaded by his captors in Iraq earlier this week.
Hensley and two other engineers, Eugene Armstrong and Kenneth Bigley, were taken by masked abductors September 16 from the home they shared in Baghdad.
"He was willing to risk his life to help the people of Iraq," said Dotty Lee, a pastoral associate with the First Christian Church of Marietta, Georgia.
"Jack did everything first class," his younger brother Ty Hensley said at the memorial. "I know that I will see Jack again."
Armstrong, an American, was also beheaded. Both killings were broadcast on an Islamist Web site.
Bigley, a British citizen, remains unaccounted for. Saturday, the British government discounted claims on an Islamist Web site that he has also been beheaded.
A group loyal to Jordanian-born militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for the kidnappings.
Hensley, Armstrong and Bigley were working on Iraqi reconstruction projects for Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services, a firm based in the United Arab Emirates.
A delegation fro the Muslim Council of Britain arrived in Iraq on Saturday to make a direct appeal to the kidnappers to free 62-year-old Bigley.
The delegation includes Dr. Dawud Abdullah and Dr. Musharraf Hussain, both respected figures in the the British Muslim community.
"We appeal to the group that is holding Ken Bigley to release him without delay and without harm," said Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the council.
"He is an elderly man and he is due to become a grandfather soon. Be merciful. Our religion, Islam, does not allow us to harm the innocent."
Miftah Osi-effa, chairman of the Muslim Committee, also issued a call for mercy.
"Islam completely forbids that any innocent individual should be targeted, bombed, harmed, oppressed, taken captive, tortured or killed."
The British delegation will be meeting with a number of Iraqi Muslim leaders during their visit to Baghdad.
