Sickening news today coming out of the Middle East, with Islamist group ISIS – now known as the Islamic State – releasing a video message to the United States that appears to show the beheading of kidnapped American photojournalist James Foley. The video, entitled A Message to America, was posted onto social media websites this morning.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are not posting the link to the video here. You may independently find it if you so wish, but be warned that it contains extremely graphic and disturbing content, and arguably should not be viewed by anyone.
Foley had been working on assignment for GlobalPost – a US-based online news company – when he vanished, presumably kidnapped, in Syria whilst en route to the Turkish border on November 22, 2012. The 40 year old had spent 635 days in captivity.
The video shows a man matching Foley’s description wearing orange robes and kneeling in front of an Islamic State militant dressed in all black. The militant spoke with a British accent.
Foley addressed the camera, sending a final message to his family and the US Government, the full transcript of which is below.
“I call on my friends, family, and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the US government. For what will happen to me is only a result of their complacency and criminality.
My message to my beloved parents, save me some dignity, and don’t accept some meagre compensation, for my death, from the same people who effectively hit the last nail in my coffin with their recent aerial campaign in Iraq.
I call on my brother John, who is a member of the US Air Force. Think about what you are doing, think about the lives you destroy, including those of your own family. I call on you John, think about who made the decision to bomb Iraq recently and kill those people, whoever they may have been. Think John, who did they really kill? And did they think about me, you, our family when they made that decision?
I died that day John, when your colleagues dropped that bomb on those people they signed my death certificate. I wish I had more time. I wish I could have the hope of freedom and seeing my family once again. But that ship has sailed. I guess all in all I wish I wasn’t American.“
The video then shows the militant, brandishing a knife, beginning to hack at Foley’s throat before fading to black. The next shot shows the militant brandishing Foley’s head.
Foley’s parents have since relayed a message of pride in their son, posted on the Facebook page setup to help find him following his initial disappearance.
Post by Free James Foley.
This is a horrific, deplorable act, and I feel ill. Journalists are a vital resource worthy of protection, not human leverage in a war they’re not fighting in.
Photo: Aris Messinis via Getty Images.
via SMH.
