THE FAMILY OF journalist James Foley, who was beheaded by Islamic State militants this week, has agreed to release an email sent to his parents from their son’s captors.
The photojournalist had been held captive for two years before being killed. A video of his beheading, released by militants, went viral and has been the subject of much controversy in recent days.
Yesterday, the Global Post published the chilling email sent to Foley’s parents, which says IS will “not stop until we quench our thirst for your blood”. The email goes on to say American citizens will pay for the price of their government’s bombings, “the first of which being the blood of the American citizen, James Foley!”
Here it is in full:
HOW LONG WILL THE SHEEP FOLLOW THE BLIND SHEPPARD?
A message to the American government and their sheep like citizens:
We have left you alone since your disgraceful defeat in Iraq. We did not interfere in your country or attack your citizens while they were safe in their homes despite our capability to do so!
As for the scum of your society who are held prisoner by us, THEY DARED TO ENTER THE LION’S DEN AND WHERE EATEN!
You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted,
We have also offered prisoner exchanges to free the Muslims currently in your detention like our sister Dr Afia Sidiqqi, however you proved very quickly to us that this is NOT what you are interested in.You have no motivation to deal with the Muslims except with the language of force, a language you were given in “Arabic translation” when you attempted to occupy the land of Iraq!
Now you return to bomb the Muslims of Iraq once again, this time resorting to Arial attacks and “proxy armies”, all the while cowardly shying away from a face-to-face confrontation!Today our swords are unsheathed towards you, GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS ALIKE! AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTILL WE QUENCH OUR THIRST FOR YOUR BLOOD.
You do not spare our weak, elderly, women or children so we will NOT spare yours!
You and your citizens will pay the price of your bombings!
The first of which being the blood of the American citizen, James Foley!
He will be executed as a DIRECT result of your transgressions towards us!
The Global Post points out that the family was not given many chances to negotiate for the journalist’s release. The first message they received in November 2013, demanded a ransom of €100 million and there was no further contact until the message above, sent on 12 August.
Yesterday, Pope Francis called the man’s family to offer his condolences, a priest close to the family said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say