British journalist appears in new ISIS propaganda video
John Cantlie, a British journalist who was held and released by jihadists in Syria in 2012, has appeared in a new Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) propaganda video saying he is to host a series of forthcoming clips in which he will explain the group's motives and challenge the West's fight against it.
In the video, published online Thursday and entitled "Lend Me Your Ears," Cantlie appears calm and recites what seems to be a well-rehearsed statement, almost certainly penned by ISIS' tech and PR-savvy media division, saying he will explain in an upcoming series of videos what the group really does and why.
The statement calls the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan failures and says the videos will question the why the decision by Britain and the U.S. to engage in another conflict in the region is a mistake.
The lines recited by Cantlie also cast blame for his current circumstances at leaders in London and Washington for refusing to negotiate with the group for the release of hostages.
European hostages from other nations have been freed after reported ransoms were paid, but the U.S. government policy is to not negotiate with terror groups.
Cantlie says he was abducted by ISIS in November of 2012 -- only about four months after he was released by other jihadists in the country who held him and a Dutch colleague for nine days.
Cantlie disappeared the following year, failing to answer a court summons in the U.K. to testify against one of his alleged kidnappers, a British national who returned from Syria and was charged with the crime. The case against the jihadist reportedly collapsed due to Cantlie not showing up.
It is unclear exactly when or why Cantlie returned to Syria, but he had spoken in interviews after his release about a desire to return to cover the war.
The video comes as British Muslim leaders made a plea for the safety of another British hostage threatened with beheading by ISIS.
Alan Henning's life was threatened in a video released Saturday that showed him in the hands of the extremists who beheaded British captive David Haines and two American journalists. The group says in the video that Henning will be next if Britain doesn't end its support for U.S. military strikes.
The Muslim leaders said in a letter published in the Independent newspaper that Henning is a humanitarian aid worker who went to Syria to help victims of the civil war. The religious leaders and community organizers ask ISIS to "show him some mercy."
They say that under Islamic rules, anyone doing humanitarian work "should be commended and held in the highest esteem" and there is no justification in the Quran for the "despicable" threat against Henning. The letter adds that Henning should be released immediately.
It is signed by the leader of the Muslim Council of Britain, the chief imams of many major mosques and more than 100 Muslim activists.
The 47-year-old Henning, a former taxi driver from the Manchester area of northwestern England, was taken captive in December shortly after joining an aid convoy and crossing the border from Turkey into Syria.
British Muslims familiar with Henning's volunteer work have also made online pleas for his release, emphasizing that he did not go to Syria for political reasons but to help victims.
ISIS militants beheaded Haines despite his British family's plea for them to make contact. The video announcing his death was made public within a day of the family's appeal.