Egypt condemns beheading of US aid worker by Islamic State

Ahram Online, Monday 17 Nov 2014

Foreign ministry issues statement condemning the killing of a fifth Western hostage by Islamic State militants in Syria

Peter Kassig
undated file photo provided by the Kassig Family shows Peter Kassig standing in front of a truck filled with supplies for Syrian refugees. A new graphic video purportedly produced by Islamic State militants in Syria released Sunday Nov. 16, 2014 claims U.S. aid worker Kassig was beheaded (Photo: AP)

Egypt's foreign ministry has condemned the killing of American aid worker Peter Kassig by Islamic State (IS).

"Egypt condemns harshly and with the strongest words and complete disapproval this brutal and criminal murder. It is a barbaric incident that contradicts the lessons of the Islamic religion, and is far from the simplest humanitarian and ethical rules," the statement released on Monday said.

 IS released a video on Sunday purporting to show the beheading of Kassig. He had been kidnapped in Syria last year and had reportedly converted to Islam.

This is the fifth beheading by IS of a Western hostage.

The jihadist organisation also released a video on Sunday which shows the simultaneous beheading of at least 15 men described as Syrian military personnel.

"Egypt renews its insistence on the necessity to concert and unite the efforts of the international community in fighting the terrorism phenomenon as a world phenomenon that does not recognise religion or homeland, and targets stability, security and development in various regions of the world," stated the foreign ministry.

 

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