Executed journalist James Foley’s family agreed to release the e-mail sent to them by the Islamic State’s jihadists a week before the video of his killing was released on Tuesday. The e-mail, dated August 12, was published in the Boston-based GlobalPost for purposes of “transparency and to fully tell Jim’s story.”
The e-mail is addressed as “a message to the American government and their sheep-like citizens.”
A transcript of the chilling e-mail:
HOW LONG WILL THE SHEEP FOLLOW THE BLIND SHEPPARD?
A message to the American government and their sheep like citizens:
We have left you alone since your disgraceful defeat in Iraq. We did not interfere in your country or attack your citizens while they were safe in their homes despite our capability to do so!
As for the scum of your society who are held prisoner by us, THEY DARED TO ENTER THE LION’S DEN AND WHERE EATEN!
You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted,
We have also offered prisoner exchanges to free the Muslims currently in your detention like our sister Dr Afia Sidiqqi, however you proved very quickly to us that this is NOT what you are interested in.
You have no motivation to deal with the Muslims except with the language of force, a language you were given in “Arabic translation” when you attempted to occupy the land of Iraq!
Now you return to bomb the Muslims of Iraq once again, this time resorting to Arial attacks and “proxy armies”, all the while cowardly shying away from a face-to-face confrontation!
Today our swords are unsheathed towards you, GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS ALIKE! AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTILL WE QUENCH OUR THIRST FOR YOUR BLOOD.
You do not spare our weak, elderly, women or children so we will NOT spare yours!
You and your citizens will pay the price of your bombings!
The first of which being the blood of the American citizen, James Foley!
He will be executed as a DIRECT result of your transgressions towards us!
Global post highlighted that one of the inaccuracies of the e-mail was that Foley’s family was not “given many chances to negotiate” for his release. Their sole demand of the captors was for a ransom of $132 million or the release of unspecified prisoners held by the U.S.
French reporter Didier Francois who was held captive with Foley for eight months said on Thursday that he had suspicions that he knew who beheaded the journalists based on the gruesome video posted on youtube. “Recognized is a very big word, but I see roughly who it is,” said Didier.
“John, the Jailer” is reportedly the lead rebel negotiator during talks to release 11 Islamic State hostages eventually handed to Turkish officials following the meeting of ransom demands earlier this year.
