[Pharaoh]

Peace is the last thing the terrorists want, they want a civil war, so I don't think it would impress them too much that the hostages are peacemakers. And being Christian isn't going to help either to fanatics like them, everyone non-Muslim is just an infidel and no more than an animal to be slaughtered. I don't see why they had to torture him first though, they're obviously just evil scum who enjoy it.