Jihadists Use British Hostage To Release Message Of Fear

A British press photographer John Cantile, kidnapped in Syria almost 2 years ago has resurfaced in a new video released by the Islamic terrorist group (ISIS), Time reports

A video posted on YouTube shows Cantlie, delivering a ‘message’ to the general public as a captive of Islamic State militants.

ISIS responsible for the deaths of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, one British aid worker Alan Henning, have been holding 43-year-old Cantlie hostage for almost two years.

The militants began posting gory videos showing beheading of the foreigners after the U.S. began launching airstrikes in northern Iraq.

The video which ran for 3 minutes, titled ‘Lend Me Your Ears’ showed, British detainee John Cantlie in an orange jumpsuit sitting on a bench, obviously under duress though he spoke calmly.

He said: “Now I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking: ‘he’s only doing this because he’s a prisoner. He’s got a gun at his head and he’s being forced to do this,’ right?” he says. “Well it’s true I am a prisoner. That I cannot deny. But seeing as I’ve been abandoned by my government and my fate now lies in the hands of Islamic State I have nothing to lose.”

Cantlie then promises to “convey some facts” about ISIS in a series of “programmes” he will be filming; about the “truth” behind the group, and about how the Western media is being “manipulated.” He notes that many European hostages have been released after their governments negotiated with the extremists, but that British and American authorities refuse to do so.

Reports from The Guardian UK say: This is not the first time Cantlie has been captured by Syrian militants. In 2012 he was rescued from kidnappers after a seven-day ordeal but returned to Syria four months later, where he was abducted again and sold on to ISIS.

Cantlie has worked for British newspapers including the SundayTimes, the Sun and the Sunday Telegraph. It is thought that he was abducted as he attempted to leave the country along with James Foley, the first U.S. journalist to be beheaded in the video posted online on Aug. 19. Alan Henning, a 47-year-old British taxi driver who went to Syria as a volunteer on an aid convoy, has also been threatened with death by ISIS militants.