James Foley beading: Isis ‘demanded release’ of female Pakistani scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui and others in exchange for Western hostages
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Version 0 of 1. Islamic State militants reportedly demanded the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a female Pakistani scientist and others extradited to the United States, in exchange for American photojournalist James Foley and other Western hostages. In an email sent to the family of Mr Foley, the militants claimed they had offered “prisoner exchanges to free the Muslims currently in your detention” including Dr Sidiqqui. Dr Sidiqqui, 42, a neuroscientist trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was arrested in Ghazni, Afghanistan in 2008. She was found to be carrying notes at the time of her arrest that included references to constructing dirty bombs and a list of New York City landmarks, as well as the toxic substance sodium cyanide. While being interrogated by US officials she allegedly grabbed a rifle and opened fire, shouting “death to Americans”, according to the BBC. She was sentenced to 86 years in prison after being convicted of attempting to kill US military personnel, sparking protests across Pakistan demanding her release. A petition to the White House also calling for her release has gathered 110,000 signatures in August. She is being held at a prison in Texas. Isis’ letter claimed that despite it offering prisoner exchanges to free those currently in US detention like Dr Afia Sidiqqi, the government “proved very quickly that this is NOT what you are interested in”. The GlobalPost said Mr Foley’s family received their first message from his captors on 26 November 2013, asking for money, “fast," after more than a year without contact. "After the militants had proved to the Foleys and investigators that they were in fact holding Jim, they made their sole demand for a ransom of 100 million euros (about $132 million) or the release of unspecified prisoners held by the United States," the news-site said. In the video released by Isis showing Mr Foley’s killing, a militant believed to be British also threatened the life of another journalist Steven Sotloff. The jihadist who killed Mr Foley, who speaks with a British accent, addressed the US President, saying: “The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision.”
The footage claimed Foley's death is a revenge killing for the ongoing US air strikes in Iraq. On Thursday, the Pentagon warned Isis presents a greater threat to the US than al-Qa’ida and must be defeated. The American Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel described them as “beyond just a terrorist group”. He said: “They marry ideology, a sophistication of […] military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. This is beyond anything we've seen.” |