In the most recent ISIS video, the Islamic terrorist organization threatens U.S. President Obama, Europe, and the current Japanese and Jordanian hostages held there, saying that they will soon "transform America into a Muslim province."
The video was discovered and translated by the Middle Eastern Media Research Institute (MEMRI) on Tuesday and it shows three Islamic State fighters standing behind a kneeling man who is identified as a Kurdish fighter. Although the Kurdish man is not shown beheaded in the video, a knife is held to his throat during a fade to black.
"Know, oh Obama, that will reach America," one of the ISIS fighters says on the video, as translated by MEMRI. "Know also that we will cut off your head in the White House, and transform America into a Muslim Province."
But the threats didn't stop at the U.S. The speaker on the video continued to give warnings to several European nations as well. "And this is my message to France and to its sister, Belgium," he continued. "We advise you that we will come to you with car bombs and explosive charges, and will cut off your heads."
Threats were also directed at Masoud Barzani, the president of the portion of Iraq that falls under Kurdish control. "But as for you, oh Masoud, you dog, we are going to behead you and throw you into the trash bin of history," the Islamic State member yelled in the video. "Know that we are men who fear no one. We will institute the laws of Allah, may He be exalted and praised."
In another message sent online, ISIS members said that Japanese hostage Kenji Goto Jogo and Jordanian pilot Mu'adh Safi Yusuf al-Kasasibah will both be executed within 24 hours if the group's demands are not met. They propose an exchange of Sajida al-Rishawi, a woman who has been imprisoned by Jordan for nine years after she admitted involvement in an attack on hotels in Amman that killed a total of 57 people. Al-Rishawi was originally meant to be executed by Jordan's government back in 2006, but a change to death penalty laws that year allowed her to avoid death.
"Any more delays by the Jordanian government will mean [that] they are responsible for the death of their pilot, which then will be followed by mine," says a voice believed to be that of Goto on an audio recording released to MEMRI. The video also sent a demand for $200 million to be paid as ransom by Japan. "I only have 24 hours left to live, and the pilot has even less. Please don't leave us to die."
But a third multimedia message was also given to MEMRI showing Goto holding a photograph of the Jordanian pilot whose plane was shot down over Syria in December. This video was identical to one sent earlier during the weekend, but is thought to reiterate that message.
While the White House has not yet responded to the video, the Japanese government is said to be working closely with the Jordanian government on a plan of action. "We will put our efforts together and do everything we can so that the two men are able to return to their respective homes with smiles on their faces," Deputy Foreign Minister Yasuhide Nakayama, who is heading the Japanese crisis task force in Amman, Jordan, told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday.
