Update:
The family of executed journalist James Foley has spoken about his brave and compassionate nature.
His mother, Diane Foley, said outside her family home in New Hampshire: “Jim was very loved, very proud to be a journalist.”
“He had such courage… He had incredible heart, and he always cared about people who were suffering,” she said, according to New York Daily News.
“He felt compelled to bear witness to people in conflict,” she said. “He died for that compassion and love.”
Confirming that President Obama had called the family home to offer his condolences, Ms Foley said she had urged the President to spare hostages including Time Magazine journalist Steven Sotloff, from her son’s fate.
Previously, Mamamia wrote:
This morning, horrifying footage of a brave man’s murder was released to the world.
It was video of ISIS militants beheading American journalist James Foley Wright.
That, and photographs of the brutal murder, were uploaded to Twitter in what was reportedly a “message” to US President Barack Obama about their intervention in Iraq.
Wright Foley was a freelance journalist and experienced war reporter who was kidnapped in Syria in November 2012. This was the first the world had seen of him in a long time.
You may have seen photos of James Wright Foley on his knees in the dirt wearing an orange jumpsuit, with a black-clad figure standing next to him.
Horrified, we have all fixated on the moment this brave man was violently killed.
But James’ family would like us all to stop. They’ve made a courageous statement asking us all to remember their ‘Jim’ as he was alive, not in his final moments.
Writer and activist Tara Moss shared this beautiful statement from Wright Foley’s parents and family.
Please, read it, honour it, and share it widely.
I encourage you to share this beautiful tribute & not the gruesome propaganda made by Foley’s cowardly murderers. pic.twitter.com/R1xQglF5HV
— Tara Moss (@Tara_Moss) August 20, 2014
“We have never been prouder of our son Jim,” Foley’s mother, Diane, wrote. “He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people.”
“We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.”
“We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person. Please respect our privacy in the days ahead as we mourn and cherish Jim.”
Vale James Wright Foley. A brave man, a brilliant journalist, one deeply tragic casualty in one of the world’s most horrific conflicts.
Top Comments
well, I think the world in general is very apathetic about atrocities, and we need graphic coverage to stir people into action.
"we need graphic coverage"
No, we don't.
All 'graphic coverage' will do is create apathy and detachment. Most people who see these images will be sickened, but the more we see them, the less they will move people. Surely action can be spurred purely because this is an atrocity. We don't need to see the atrocity to know it is one.
This story has completely broke my heart.