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John and Diane Foley, the parents of US journalist James Foley who was beheaded in a gruesome video released on Tuesday by Muslim extremists Islamic State, have praised their son for his fearless approach to his profession.
“He was a courageous fearless journalist,” Diane Foley said, speaking to media outside the couple’s home in Rochester, New Hampshire. “He always hoped that he would come home.”
“We know Jimmy’s free,” John Foley replied. “He’s finally free. And we know he’s in God’s hands… and we know he’s in heaven.”
Their emotional statement was delivered from the front lawn of their home, where they revealed that it was James’ bravery in the face of his abductors that kept their hopes alive during their son’s two year in captivity.
“Every time we started to get despondent, we thought of Jim and his courage,” Diane Foley said.
“We’re very proud of him. He was a very compassionate American. He was just a hero, who would never want us to hate or be bitter.”
John Foley spoke about James and the other hostages who have been killed or who are being held by ISIS.
“They never hurt anybody,” he said. “They were trying to help. There’s no reason for their slaughter.”
The video shows James Foley kneeling on the ground beside a black-clad militant who speaks in what appears to be an English accent before he puts a knife to Foley’s throat. His body is later shown with his head sitting in the small of his back.
John Foley said the barbarity of his son’s death had left its mark. “It haunts me, how much pain he was in and how cruel this method of execution is as opposed to so many others,” he said. “We believe he was a martyr, a martyr for freedom.”
The comments were echoed by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott during a speech in Melbourne this morning in which he described James’ death as ”truly sickening and utterly evil” while warning that such atrocities could even happen here in Australia.
”As for the apparent truth that the murderer was a British citizen, it just goes to show that while these events are taking place far from our shores, they can have ramifications right around the world,” he said.
”It just goes to show that this is not just something that happens elsewhere, it could happen in countries like Australia if we relax our vigilance against terrorism and potential terrorism here on our shores.
”It does strengthen our resolve to do what we need to, to keep our community safe and strong.”
Meanwhile, reports claim the US Government has confirmed that there was a failed attempt to rescue captives held in Syria earlier this year.
The Pentagon reportedly confirmed that there had been a rescue attempt but was unable to say if Mr Foley was the targeted captives.
A statement from President Barack Obama’s Homeland Security adviser, Lisa Monaco, said: “The President authorised action at this time because it was the national security team’s assessment that these hostages were in danger.”
