Summary: The Islamic State group has released another video, Sunday, revealing another beheading of an American citizen.
After the Islamic State group released a new video this Sunday with a masked militant standing next to the severed head of Peter Kassig, once a U.S. Army Ranger, but recently an aid worker, the West has reacted with the same disgust as it long has held for ISIS shock tactics.
“This is Peter Edward Kassig, a U.S. citizen … who fought against the Muslims in Iraq,” said the militant in a British accent.
In fact, Kassig had converted to Islam himself after using his certification as an EMT to help in addressing wounds of Syrians and delivering food and medical supplies, until he was captured on Oct. 1 of 2013.
As President Barack Obama said, Kassig was “taken from us in an act of pure evil by a terrorist group the world rightly associates with inhumanity.” He further said that ISIS “revels in the slaughter of innocents, including Muslims, and is bent only on sowing death and destruction.”
ISIS began as an al-Qaida affiliate in Iraq before they were expelled for their brutality and their refusal to work only within Iraq. They now control a third of Syria and Iraq. Their violent tactics are based on their interpretation of Shariah law.
Burhan Agha, a Syrian friend of Kassig who helped in his relief efforts said, “If I could apologize to each American, one by one, I would, because Peter died in Syria, while he was helping the Syrian people,” as he said to The Associated Press. “Those who killed him claimed to have done it in the name of Islam. I am a Muslim and am from Syria. [Those who killed him] are not Muslims.”
His parents, Ed and Paula Kassig, are “heartbroken” by their son’s death, but “incredibly proud” of the help he gave Syria, saying “he lost his life as a result of his love for the Syrian people and his desire to ease their suffering,” as they said in a statement.
British Prime Minister David Cameron likewise said he was “horrified by the cold-blooded murder,” by which ISIS has “again shown their depravity,” echoing the sentiment felt by much the world over the tactics they’ve used.
Notably, one of those shown in the video may be Nasser Muthana, 20, who planned on attending medical school in the UK, but instead covertly absconded to Syria. Nasser’s father said, in reference to the video, “It looks like him. I can’t be certain because of the quality of the picture and you can never be sure. But it could be him,” and he further disowned his son and his other son, who also is believed to have joined ISIS, saying “I don’t have sons now – that’s how I feel about them. They would not be welcome home.” He also said they have “betrayed Great Britain.”
Not only was Kassig beheaded, but so were a large group of Syrian soldiers, who were also featured in the film.