A third British hostage reportedly in the hands of the Islamic State group pleaded with his government to “negotiate” in a video released Thursday by the terrorist organization.
The Telegraph reported the hostage as saying that he’s been “abandoned” by his British government and that he wants authorities to “negotiate” with the Islamic State.
Reuters names the man as John Cantlie, a British journalist who speaks at length in the three-minute clip.
“Now I know what you’re thinking,” Mr. Cantlie says in the video, Reuters reported. “You’re thinking, ’He’s only doing this because he’s a prisoners. He’s got a gun at his head and he’s being forced to do this.’ Right? Well, it’s true. I am a prisoner. That I cannot deny. But seeing as I’ve been abandoned by my government and my fate now lies in the hands of the Islamic State, I have nothing to lose.”
Mr. Cantlie is dressed in an orange shirt and appears healthy, Reuters reported.
The new video is titled, “Lend Me Your Ears, Messages from the British Detainee John Cantlie.” Mr. Cantlie, in the video, says he was taken hostage in Syria by the terrorists in November 2012.
He says he worked for several media outlets in Britain, including the Sunday Times, the Sun and the Sunday Telegraph.
“After two disastrous and hugely unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, why is it that our governments appear so keen to get involved in yet another un-winnable conflict?” Mr. Cantlie says in the video, according to Reuters.
The Islamic State has already beheaded two U.S. journalists and a British aid worker.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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