"Jihadi John" Threatens Japan

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Tue Jan 20, 2015 at 02:13:16 PM EST
Tags: ISIS, Jihadi John (all tags)

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The black clad executioner known only as "Jihadi John" is back. Today ISIS released a video with a Message to Japan. The video is in English. Jihadi John says as a result of Japan pledging $200 million in non-military aid to assist in the fight against ISIS, it is demanding a ransom of $200 million, one for each of the two Japanese hostages.

One of the hostages, Haruna Yukawa, was shown being interrogated in a video last August. The second, Kenji Goto, is a journalist.

At the end of the video, Jihadi John addresses the Japanese people. He tells them they have 72 hours to convince their government to pay. "Otherwise, this knife will become your nightmare." [More...]

Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, says the threat is unacceptable and Japan will work towards freeing the hostages without caving in to terrorism.

He also says the country will not recant its offer of financial aid:

"Japan will make as much contribution as possible in non-military areas, including provision of support for refugees from Iraq and Syria," he said.

"The $200 million aid Japan has unveiled was humanitarian aid aimed at providing food and medical services in order to save those people in the region who have lost their homes and become refugees. I believe that this is the aid that is most needed by refugees,"

The video (I'm not linking to it) appears to be shot in a similar location as prior videos of Jihadi John threatening American and British citizens.

Why are the U.S. and U.K. keeping his identity secret? They have said they know who he is. Isn't it time we all knew? I think the mystery is increasing the perception of ISIS as powerful and untouchable.

< The Fine Print in AG Holder's Forfeiture Directive | Shami Witness: Police Identify Potentially Criminal Tweet >

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"Jihadi John" Threatens Japan | 2 comments (2 topical)

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Unfortunately, $200M in aid means (none / 0) (#1)
by Mr Natural on Tue Jan 20, 2015 at 10:09:32 PM EST

more aid workers, thus more future hostages.

2nd hostage nabbed hunting 1st hostage (none / 0) (#2)
by Mr Natural on Wed Jan 21, 2015 at 10:22:06 AM EST

One of two Japanese men being held by the Islamic State for a $200 million ransom is a freelance journalist abducted after going into Syria to search for the first hostage, the NHK Japanese TV network reported.
Reporter Kenji Goto, 47, recorded a statement before heading into Syria, according to his Syrian translator and guide, Alaaeddin Al-Zaeem, NHK reports.
Al-Zaeem, 34, told NHK on Wednesday that he met Goto in late October and that the reporter was trying "to get some news or information" about Yukawa, the 42-year-old founder of a private security firm who disappeared in August.