American Photojournalist James Foley Allegedly Executed in Video Released by ISIS

Photo by and ©Manu Brabo
Photo by and ©Manu Brabo

American freelance photojournalist James Foley was allegedly executed yesterday, an atrocity that was revealed in a horrifying video released by the militant group ISIS (The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

Foley, 40, was kidnapped on Thanksgiving Day 2012 while working in northern Syria, and hadn’t been heard from until yesterday when the video — which we have chosen not to embed per his family’s wishes — was released.

Initially uploaded to YouTube with the title “A Message to America,” the video shows a man in an orange jumpsuit, allegedly Foley, kneeling beside an ISIS militant with a British accent. Foley is forced to recite an anti-American statement, after which the militant beheads him.

The video then shows another journalist, identified as kidnapped CNN reporter Steven Sotloff, whose life, says the militant, depends on President Obama’s next move.

Mr. Foley’s cousin, Kelly Foley, asked that people not watch or share the video, and to please respect her family’s privacy during this trying time. While his mother, Diane Foley, issued the statement above on the Free James Foley Facebook page.

The veracity of the video has not been confirmed yet, but National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden released a statement saying that “the intelligence community is working quickly to determine its authenticity.”

“If genuine,” she continued, “we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist.”

(via NY Times)


Image credits: Photograph by Manu Brabo, courtesy of Free James Foley


Correction: Kelly Foley was initially identified as Mr. Foley’s wife, when she is in fact his cousin. The article has been corrected.

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