Video Shows Ethiopian Christians Beheaded by ISIS
Christianity is now the primary target for ISIS, as the terrorist outfit believes that it’s largely a fight between Christian crusaders and Muslims belonging to Islam.
By Rakesh Raman
A video believed to be released by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorists on Sunday, April 19, has shown mass beheading of ISIS prisoners who are said to be Ethiopian Christians in Libya.
Released by al-Furqan Media, the media arm of the terrorist group, the 29-minute video, begins with a narration in Arabic language along with archival clips of wars and various props related to Christianity including a Bible.
The video also showed ISIS militants demolishing heritage sites and breaking Christian Cross at different sites. With these images it appears that the terrorists are venting out their anger on everything that belongs to Christianity.
[ New ISIS Video Shows All Is Well in the Islamic State ]
In February, the ISIS militants had kidnapped over 200 Assyrian Christians from different parts of Syria. Christianity is now the primary target for ISIS, as the terrorist outfit believes that it’s largely a fight between Christian crusaders and Muslims belonging to Islam. Earlier, an ISIS video showed mass beheading of 21 Christians kidnapped in Libya.
However, the U.S., which is leading the coalition forces to attack ISIS, maintains that its fight is not against Islam.
“We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam,” said the U.S. President Barack Obama, while addressing a White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.
[ President Obama: We Are Not at War with Islam ]
The new images of executed prisoners – in orange and black jumpsuits – appear after about 24 minutes of introductory clips depicting ISIS’ perspective and modus operandi in the video.
The narrator says: “All praise be to Allah, the Lord and cherisher of the world and may peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Mohammed. To the nation of the cross, we are back again on the sands, where the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, have stepped on before, telling you Muslim blood that was shed under the hands of your religion is not cheap.”
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He also says that all those (including Christians) who perform prayer and pay alms will be protected and won’t be harmed. Earlier, the video shows interviews with protected Christians who are doing their normal business in ISIS-controlled areas.
In a related development, the U.S. army general Martin E. Dempsey observed that trends in Iraq are moving in the right direction, as Iraqi forces are maintaining their momentum against the ISIS militants.
Referring to the recent Tikrit offensive carried out by the coalition military forces, Dempsey said it was a good step and assured that U.S. will continue consulting with Iraq’s leadership as it plans and conducts operations.
By Rakesh Raman, the managing editor of RMN Company
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