The following is a transcript of the video which appears to show the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff by an ISIS fighter with a British accent.
5Pillarz will not publish the video itself because of its disturbing nature and so that we do not fall foul of any anti-terror laws. Nevertheless, we believe the content of the video is in the public interest so here is the transcript.
The video starts with a statement from US President Barack Obama:
“The United States will do what we must continue to do to protect our people. We will be vigilant and we will be relentless. When people harm Americans anywhere we do what’s necessary to do to see that justice is done, and we act against ISIL standing alongside others.”
The video then cuts to a desert scene where Steven Sotloff is kneeling down with his hands tied behind his back and with an ISIS fighter clad in black beside him. Sotloff calmly says:
“I am Steven Joel Sotloff. I’m sure you know exactly who I am now and why I’m appearing before you. And now it’s time for my message. Obama, your foreign policy of intervention in Iraq was supposed to be for the preservation of American lives and interests, so why is it that I am having to pay the price of your interference with my life? Am I not an American citizen?
“You’ve spent billions of US taxpayer’s dollars and we’ve lost thousands of of troops in our previous fighting against the Islamic State. So where is the American people’s interests in igniting this war? From what little I know about foreign policy I remember a time when you could not win an election without promising to bring our troops back home from Iraq, from Afghanistan and to close down Guantanamo. Here you are now, Obama, nearing the end of your term and having achieved none of the above and deceivingly marching us the American people into a blazing fire.”
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The video then cuts to the ISIS fighter in a balaclava. He says:
“I’m back Obama and I’m back because of your arrogant foreign policy towards the Islamic State. Because of your insistence in continuing your bombings (unclear) … despite our serious warnings. You, Obama, have yet again from your actions killed yet another American citizen. So just as your missiles continue to strike our people our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people.
“We take this opportunity to warn those governments that enter this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State to back off and leave our people alone.”
No actual beheading is shown on the version of the video that 5Pillarz saw, as the video fades to black as the ISIS fighter begins to cut at Sotloff’s neck.
