Calls For ISIS Media Blackout After Reported Execution Of US Journalist

US freelance journalist James Foley has reportedly been executed by "Islamist State" (IS) militants. In response, a Twitter campaign has been started to stop the spread of violent postings by the IS.

US freelance journalist James Foley has reportedly been executed by "Islamist State" militants. In response, a Twitter campaign has been started to stop the spread of the group's violent posts.



In a video originally posted on YouTube called "A message to America," militants claiming to represent the "Islamic State" (IS) execute a man identified as James Foley, supposedly in retaliation for Washington launching a campaign of airstrikes against the radical group in northern Iraq.



Shortly after the video went online, a social media campaign called #IsisMediaBlackout was started on Twitter, aiming to stop the footage and other violent videos from being shared. ISIS refers to the radical Sunni group's previous name, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.



So far, the Twitter campaign has been shared more than 7,000 times since Tuesday.











'Independent and impartial journalist'



Foley went missing in November of 2012 in northern Syria on his way to the Turkish border. He reported for the Boston-based news website GlobalPost as well as the French news agency AFP. The 40-year-old veteran war correspondent had previously reported from Libya and Afghanistan.



"James was working as a brave, independent and impartial journalist covering the dangerous Syrian conflict when he was captured in November 2012," AFP chairman Emmanuel Hoog said.



"His work for AFP and other media organizations was widely admired," Hoog continued. "Nothing could justify his incarceration or any threats against his life. Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."



The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the authenticity of the video, which was removed from social media sites on Tuesday. Although Foley's death has not yet been confirmed by US authorities, his mother, Dianne, issued a statement published by GlobalPost.



"We have never been prouder of our son and brother Jim," she said. "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," she continued. "Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world."