(WASHINGTON, DC) — The mother of American journalist James Foley, apparently executed by Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) jihadists, Wednesday paid tribute to her son who she said had died trying to expose the suffering of the Syrian people.
Condolences and shocked messages poured in after the Islamist group released a video showing a masked militant beheading a man resembling Foley, who has been missing since he was seized in Syria in November 2012.
“We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people,” Foley’s mother Diane said in a Facebook message to supporters.
“We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.”
“We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person.”
A second captive, said to be U.S. reporter Steven Sotloff, was shown alive in the video, along with a warning that his fate rests on U.S. President Barack Obama ordering a halt to strikes against the jihadist group which seized swath of Syria and Iraq.
Sotloff, whose kidnapping in August last year has not been widely reported, has written for several U.S. newspapers and magazines, including Time, Foreign Policy and The Christian Science Monitor.
The White House said U.S. intelligence was studying the video.
President Barack Obama says the United States will continue to confront Islamic State extremists despite the brutal murder of journalist James Foley.
Speaking from Matha’s Vineyeard where he’s vacationing with his family, Obama says the entire world is “appalled” by Foley’s killing. The president says he spoke Wednesday with Foley’s family and offered condolences.
Obama says the Islamic State abducts women and children, and tortures, rapes, enslaves and kills people. He said the Islamic State targets Christians and other minorities and aims to commit genocide.