The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has shared a second gruesome video which allegedly shows the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff. Photograaph shared widely on social media
A second video showing the beheading of an American journalist by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a spin-off of Al Qaeda that has come to control one-third of Syria and a quarter of Iraq, has emerged.
The three-minute video allegedly shows the beheading of Steven Sotloff, whose work in hotspots across the Middle East has taken him to Bahrain, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Turkey.
Sotloff disappeared in August last year while reporting in Syria.
This gruesome video follows the beheading of American photojournalist James Wright Foley, who has been missing in Syria for 636 days, before a video showing his murder was released by the ISIS on August 19.
Sotloff was identified in the Foley video, with a warning that he would be next. Now another hostage, David Haines, from the UK, is said to appear in this second video.
DC-based journalist Zaid Benjamin tweets to his 45.5K followers:
The same voice who appeared during the beheading of Foley says David Haines from UK will be next.
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) September 2, 2014
#ISIS says in Steven Sotloff beheading that nations should stay away from any alliance with the US
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) September 2, 2014
According to NBC News, Haines, a former British military, left the military to work for NGOs, where he provides security work.
Shock
The news came as a shock to many.
Kurdish-British blogger Ruwayda Mustafah, with 41K followers on Twitter, is speechless:
#ISIS reportedly beheads Steven Sotloff —What could anyone possibly say? The strongest of condemnation seems pathetic in the face of #ISIS
— Ruwayda Mustafah (@RuwaydaMustafah) September 2, 2014
Emile Hokayem, Mideast analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, explains to his 15K followers on Twitter saying the widespread of such horrific videos showcasing ISIS’ crimes desensitize Middle Eastern societies:
Big danger hovering over Middle Eastern societies: desensitization as atrocities multiply, become part of daily ‘normalcy.’ RIP Steven
— Emile Hokayem (@emile_hokayem) September 2, 2014
He further explains that ISIS is keen on making such videos public as part of its “terror” strategy.
Difference btw ISIS/Assad atrocities not in scale/nature but in publicizing: for ISIS, terror is strategy; Assad needs ambiguity/deniability
— Emile Hokayem (@emile_hokayem) September 2, 2014
Colleagues Pay Tribute
On Twitter, many describe Sotloff as a brave journalist.
Photojournalist Mazen Mahdi from Bahrain remarks:
I didn't want to say much earlier about Steven Sotloff but anyone who had worked with him would know he was a fearless reporter .. RIP
— Mazen Mahdi (@MazenMahdi) September 2, 2014
He adds:
Knowing, Steven Sotloff, had the idiots in #isil bothered to check they would have known he was all about real grievances of the people
— Mazen Mahdi (@MazenMahdi) September 2, 2014
Journalist Portia Walker laments her loss:
Thinking of you Steven. A great writer, brave reporter and good friend.
— Portia Walker (@portia_walker) September 2, 2014
Lauren Bohn's last encounter with Sotloff was in Cairo. The multi-media journalist, who is now in Istanbul, recalls:
At a smoky cafe in Cairo, tapping on his keyboard, sharing contacts + smiling widely. The last time I saw Steven. A wonderful soul. RIP.
— Lauren Bohn (@LaurenBohn) September 2, 2014
And Global Post journalist Jeb Boone met Sofloff in Yemen. He remembers how people were confused between them:
I met Steven in Yemen. People thought we were the same person because we were both fat and white. Pretty funny. RIP dude.
— Jeb Boone (@JebBoone) September 2, 2014
#ISISmediaBlackout
Just like with the Foley video, many are calling for an ISIS media blackout. Instead of sharing the ISIS beheading video, they are calling for remembering Sotloff in better times.
Among them is Zach Green, who says:
Don't share #ISIS‘s beheading video, that's what they want. #ISISmediaBlackout RIP Steven Sotloff. pic.twitter.com/c3gDLTbBar
— Zach Green (@140elect) September 2, 2014
This tweet has been shared about 800 times at the time of writing this post.
From Libya, Ismael lends his support:
#ISISmediaBlackout pic.twitter.com/8rynuislyS
— Ismael (@ChangeInLibya) September 2, 2014
Boone adds:
Can't believe this bears repeating but one should not empower ISIS by publishing their PR materials. RIP Steven Sotloff.
— Jeb Boone (@JebBoone) September 2, 2014
And from Lebanon, Elie Fares explains:
Don’t give them what they want: ears to listen & eyes to fear their brutality. #ISISMediaBlackout pic.twitter.com/9H7Zf9q6dQ
— Elie Fares (@eliefares) September 2, 2014
What next?
For Huffington Post Middle East correspondent Joshua Hersh, who is based in New York, little is being done to stop the ISIS’ atrocities:
ISIS seems to be the only group in the world that believes Obama is taking aggressive action against ISIS.
— Joshua Hersh (@joshuahersh) September 2, 2014
Meanwhile..
Syrian Razan Saffour reminds us that Muslim journalists too are not immune from the ISIS.
2 weeks ago ISIS executed Syrian Muslim journalist Bassam Raies. The world didn't give a damn. #Syria pic.twitter.com/Obms6gTiuK
— Razan Saffour (@RazanSpeaks) September 2, 2014
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