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In a video posted online Tuesday, ISIS beheads James Wright Foley, an American freelance journalist who was captured in Syria in 2012. The video says the killing is a warning to the U.S. to end its intervention in Iraq. Before he was decapitated, the journalist was forced to denounce his own country. In 2011, he spoke about his previous capture in Libya. "I believe that front-line journalism is important." The ISIS video also shows Steven Sotloff, a freelance journalist who had worked for Time, and threatens that he will be next. Sotloff's kidnapping seems to have been kept secret until now. Foley was working as a photographer in Syria for GlobalPost and AFP when he was taken. The year prior he had been kidnapped in Libya.
On Facebook, Foley's mom, Diane, confirmed his death with a heartbreaking message. She wrote:
"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.
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. Please respect our privacy in the days ahead as we mourn and cherish Jim."