"A video grab from the YouTube film believed to show hostage John Cantlie walking round the Iraqi city of Mosul. Photograph: PA"
ISIS has released a new propaganda video featuring British journalist John Cantlie reporting on the conditions ISIS is working through on Aleppo in Syria. The video seems to be propaganda to show that ISIS is still strong and well, despite the bombings and attacks made on their lands.
"The photojournalist presents the documentary-style clip in English, claiming that “life in Mosul is business as usual” and that media reports suggesting the city is “depressed” and “living in fear” are “misleading”." (The Guardian)
"Cantlie also shows a religious school and a court, where he explains that Islamic Sharia law "is 1,400 years old. And it is the rule of God, the rule of Allah. And therefore it cannot be changed." He cites, for example, that the punishment for robbery is having one's hand cut off." (CNN)
British journalist, Cantlie has made several videos for ISIS while hostage, but this latest video leaves wide room for speculation on his life, calling this "the last of this series. This gives people around the world an erie feeling and a reminder that Cantlie is still at risk of survival. Many people have bashed Cantlie, claiming that he is a trader for making these ISIS videos, creating these propaganda videos to lure others from the West to join ISIS. He has been held hostage for over two years by ISIS, becoming captive in November 2012. Cantlie is dressed in casual civilian wear in the latest video, as to show he is just a ordinary citizen speaking of the every day activities he views around him. Being hostage, Cantlie, strangely calm in the recent video series for ISIS, and is clearly under duress, doing all that he can to stay alive.
"Cantlie refers to the latest video as "the last film in this series." He does not discuss his fate as a hostage, though he has previously commented on threats to his life. The videos he is forced to make are well liked in the jihadist community, considering that a number of accounts on social media have advocated for ISIS to keep Cantlie alive so he could continue creating the propaganda films." (Newsweek)
Pleas for Cantlie's freedom have been sent to ISIS by his family members.
"His family have repeatedly called on Isis to set him free, with Cantlie's father Paul, 80, sending a message to Isis appealing for his son's freedom. He died shortly afterwards.
Jessica Cantlie, his sister, has previously appealed for “direct contact” with the extremist militants holding him." (independent.ie)
For those of you who are curious to watch the recently released video by ISIS with British Journalist Jogn Cantlie, you can check it out here, using the link.
If you would like more information or would like to help out by joining in demonstrations, there is a FaceBook page called "Free John Cantlie".