ISIS reportedly trying to sell the body of beheaded journalist James Foley
Washington: The Islamic State group is reportedly trying to sell the beheaded body of US photojournalist James Foley to his parents. According to a report in Mirror, the terrorist group is demanding $1 million to deliver the journalist’s body across the Syrian border to Turkey. James Foley was beheaded by the Islamic State terrorists in August this year and was the first western hostage to be executed by the terrorist group.
Three middlemen – one a businessman, one a former rebel fighter in Syria, and one a senior official in the Free Syrian Army – told Buzzfeed that the Islamic State is trying to sell Foley’s remains to either the United States government or the journalist’s family.The extremist group said it would offer a DNA sample to prove the remains really belonged to Foley.
Sources said that the terrorist group is now trying to negotiate the sales of at least one of the men it has killed after failing to strike ransom deals.
An official with the U.S. State Department said “we are seeking more information” on whether IS is trying to sell the remains of US hostages. While a senior American diplomat reportedly called the idea “disgusting.”Having executed three Americans already, it is possible that the militants believe their remains could bring their families to the table with cash.
Fox News reported that one of the sources, a former Syrian rebel fighter, said he had been approached by an IS leader and was asked to find a channel to either the government or Foley’s family. The source told the website that he is concerned the United States will stop the deal even if the family wants it, because the government nixed a ransom demand before Foley’s death.