On September 2, 2014 the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) released a video that claims to show the grotesque murder of American freelance journalist Steven Sotloff, who wrote for various news organizations including Time magazine.The horrifying news came only a few days after Sotloff’s mother made a public plea to the terrorists holding her son hostage. Shirley Sotloff spoke directly to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a video broadcast on Al Arabiya Network, the Associated Press reports.“This was the first thing I woke up to. It’s sad to know that there is no mercy for families,” said Ethan Secrist, a sophomore from Idaho studying political science.Her son appeared last week in an ISIS video showing the decapitation of another American journalist James Foley. The executor in the video warns that Steven Sotloff’s fate was dependent upon what U.S. President Barack Obama does next in Iraq.ISIS is an al Qaeda splinter group that has gained notoriety for it’s public executions, crucifixions, and other violent acts. They are currently occupying large areas of territory in northern and western Iraq. Their mission is to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.A day after the video was released, Obama vowed that the U.S. would be “relentless” in striking back against ISIS.“It’s good to know that Obama is taking care of business, this is a serious issue to national security,” said Cajun Hainsworth, a freshman from Wash. studying psychology.Steven Sotloff disappeared while reporting from Syria in August 2013, but his family kept the news secret, fearing harm to him if they went public. However, various government agencies have been trying to gain Sotloff’s release for the past year.This summer, several dozen of the most elite U.S. commandos flew into Syria, but couldn’t find the hostages, including Sotloff and fellow journalist James Foley, a U.S. government official told CNN last month.“At least there is something being done, all we can do is just hope that no other hostages are executed,” said Oakley Tullis, a sophomore from Calif. studying psychology.ISIS has declared that their next victim would be a British national. A public memorial service was scheduled for Sotloff on Friday, September 5, in his hometown of Miami.
Writer: Reid Crickmore ~ Multimedia Journalist
