ISIS released a haunting propaganda video showing a British captive promising to illuminate the “the truth” behind the militants’ network and criticizing his government and the U.S. approach to hostage negotiations.
The video — which runs for around three minutes — has not been verified by NBC News. ISIS extremists have released a long line of propaganda videos — including the grisly beheadings of three Western hostages. ISIS also has threatened the life of another British hostage, Alan Henning.
In a video released Thursday, a man who identifies himself as British is shown in an orange jumpsuit – the same style journalist James Foley and subsequent hostages wore in their beheading videos. The similarities end there, with the video — titled “Lend Me Your Ears” taking on the appearance of a news program. Speaking from behind a table in a darkened room, the man says he was taken captive in Syria in 2012 and promises that more “programs” are coming.
"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 calmly, speaking directly to the camera, hands clasped before him. "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 the Islamic State, I have nothing to lose."
Referring to the group’s self-proclaimed name – the Islamic State – the man goes on to say that “over the next few programs” he will “show you the truth as the Western media tries to drag the public back to the abyss of another war with the Islamic State.’
Telling the camera that “there are two sides to every story,” the man says he will “show you the truth behind what happened when many European citizens were imprisoned and later released by the Islamic State and how the British and American governments thought they could do it different to every other European country.”
Imploring viewers to tune in for “the next few programs,” he adds “I think you may be surprised at what you learn.”
The video is the latest propaganda by ISIS, distributed by social media and other means.
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