Third ISIS Hostage Within Two Months Confirmed Dead
How many others does the terrorist organization hold?
ISIS Contacted Family Informing of Death
In recent events, ISIS has taken the lives of three more of its hostages, including the alleged beheading of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, the live burning of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh and the unclear murder of American aid worker Kayla Mueller.
In May 2014, ISIS contacted Mueller’s family and demanded payment of $7 million by August 13 in exchange for Mueller. Her death was confirmed February 10 after her family received authentication regarding a private note that ISIS captors sent them.
“We are heartbroken to share that we’ve received confirmation that Kayla Jean Mueller has lost her life. Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice and peace,” her family stated.
A 26-year-old from Prescott, Arizona, Mueller graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2009 and worked in northern India, Israel and Palestinian regions with humanitarian groups. Since August 2013, Mueller was held hostage in northern Syria after leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria with her Syrian boyfriend. They were transported to various holding facilities including the hospital in Aleppo, an industrial location near Turkey, and an ISIS fort in Raqqa, Syria. Mueller’s boyfriend was released and attempted to appeal to ISIS for Mueller’s freedom to no avail. Limited rescue attempts by the United States were unsuccessful.
Though details surrounding Mueller’s death are foggy, ISIS reported that she was killed in a building in Raqqa that was hit by a Jordanian airstrike. The only proof ISIS could offer was a photograph of the building in ruin. U.S. intelligence officials will continue to investigate the circumstances.
A letter that Mueller wrote to her family in November 2014 claimed that she was not being harmed. “Please know that I am in a safe location, completely unharmed + healthy (put on weight in fact); I have been treated w/ the utmost respect + kindness,” Mueller wrote.
Despite her situation, Mueller’s tone was positive. “I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful. I have come to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look for it,” Mueller wrote.
President Obama, Buzzfeed in an interview, said that “she was an outstanding young woman and a great spirit — and I think that spirit will live on. The more people learn about her, the more they appreciate what she stood for — and how it stands in contrast with the barbaric organization that held her captive.”
Mueller is the fourth known American hostage of ISIS to be murdered, following James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and Peter Kassig.
Japanese and Jordanian Hostage Held Together, Beheaded and Burned
Similar to the foggy details of Mueller’s death, Goto was allegedly beheaded by ISIS, though it is unknown when.
Journalist Kenji Goto was held captive with al-Kasabeh since his capture in Syria in October 2014. Goto was trying to save Haruna Yukawa, another hostage who was killed prior to Goto. On January 20, ISIS threatened to kill the two within 24 hours if Jordan did not release al-Qaeda prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman who was sentenced to death. ISIS released a video of Goto’s beheading on February 1.
Kenji Goto worked as a freelance journalist who wrote about the conflict in Syria through the lens of children and everyday people.
In the video titled “A Message to the Japanese Government,” Goto’s masked murderer spoke to the camera “An entire army is thirsty for your blood.”
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded by increasing security in airports and promising to continue its non-military quest to stop terrorism. “I feel indignation over this immoral and heinous act of terrorism,” Abe said.
Jordanian King Abdullah II is taking a more aggressive stance in response to the burning of al-Kasabeh shown in a video released by ISIS on February 3. The captors poured gasoline over al-Kasabeh he was then placed in a cage as a militant lit a torch to him.
ISIS held al-Kasabeh captive since December 24 when he was shot down in an F-16 fighter jet over Syria.
“Our punishment and revenge will be as huge as the loss of the Jordanians,” Abdullah promised.
Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasabeh was held by ISIS since December 24 when his fighter jet was shot down.
Jordan sent thousands of soldiers to the Iraqi border. On February 4, the nation executed al-Rishawi as well Ziad al-Karbouli, according to government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani.
Obama met with Abdullah on February 3 to extend sympathy. “It’s just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization,” Obama said.