Killing of captives by the Islamic State

List of executions by IS From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Soldiers and civilians (such as captives and "criminals") have been executed by the Islamic State (IS) by beheading, immolation, shooting, and other means. IS has released a number of propaganda/publicity videos of beheadings or shootings of captives. Houtat Sulūk is reported to be a mass grave.[1][2]

List of notable Islamic State executions

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
More information Victim(s), Sex(s) ...
Victim(s) Sex(s) Nationality(s) of victim(s) Date of execution
(approx.)		 Place of execution
(approx.)		 Method(s) Reason(s)
Sergei Gorbunov[3] M Russian April 2014 Raqqa, Syria Shooting Failure to pay Ransom[4]
Al-Moutaz Bellah Ibrahim M Syrian May 4, 2014[5] Raqqa, Syria Shooting Participating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”
39 Indian migrant workers M Indian June 2014 Mosul, Iraq Unknown execution method, most likely shooting Failure to pay Ransom
1,095–1,700 Iraqi soldiers M Iraqi June 12, 2014 Tikrit, Iraq Shooting Sectarian violence against Shi’ite Muslims in Iraq
Hawas Mallah[6] M Syrian June 14, 2014 Palmyra, Syria Thrown off a roof and shooting Sodomy
Mohammed Salameh[6] M Syrian June 14, 2014 Palmyra, Syria Thrown off a roof and stoning Sodomy
200 Syrian soldiers M Syrian July 16–26, 2014 Palmyra, Syria Shooting Revenge against the Syrian regime
James Wright Foley M American August 19, 2014 Raqqa, Syria Beheading Retaliation for the American airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq[7]
250 Syrian soldiers M Syrian August 27–28, 2014 Tabqa, Syria Shooting Revenge against the Syrian regime
Sgt. Ali al-Sayyed M Lebanese August 28, 2014 Arsal, Lebanon Beheading To send a message to Lebanon[8]
Steven Joel Sotloff M Israeli-American September 2, 2014 Badiya, Syria Beheading Failure to pay Ransom and continued American airstrikes against the Islamic State
Sgt. Abbas Medlej M Lebanese September 6, 2014 Arsal, Lebanon Beheading and shooting Attempting to escape from Islamic State captors
David Cawthorne Haines M British September 13, 2014 Badiya, Syria Beheading Failure to pay Ransom and British airstrikes against the Islamic State
Mohammad Hamieh[9] M Lebanese September 19, 2014 Arsal, Lebanon Shooting To send a message to Lebanon
Samira Saleh Ali al-Naimi F Iraqi September 22, 2014 Mosul, Iraq Shooting Criticizing the destruction of mosques and ancient artifacts, as well as being an “apostate”
Hervé Gourdel M French September 24, 2014 Tikjda, Algeria Beheading French airstrikes against the Islamic State
Alan Henning M British October 3, 2014 Badiya, Syria Beheading Failure to pay Ransom and the continued British airstrikes against the Islamic State
Siraj Ghatish[10] M Libyan November 11, 2014 Derna, Libya Beheading To send a message to Libya
Mohamed Battu[10] M Libyan November 11, 2014 Derna, Libya Beheading To send a message to Libya
Mohamed al-Mesmari[10] M Libyan November 11, 2014 Derna, Libya Beheading To send a message to Libya
Ahmed Muftah el-Nazihi[10] M Libyan November 13, 2014 Derna, Libya Beheading To send a message to Libya
Maj. Peter Edward Abdul-Rahman Kassig M American November 16, 2014 Dabiq, Syria Beheading Failure to pay Ransom and the beginning of American airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria
1st LT. Muath Safi Yousef al-Kasasbeh M Jordanian January 3, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Immolation Failure to pay Ransom and in retaliation for Jordanian involvement in “Crusader” airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria
Dzhambulat Yesenjenovich Mamaev[11] M Kazakh January 15, 2015 Rif Dimashq, Syria Shooting Alleged spying for the Federal Security Service
Sergey Nikolayevich Ashimov[11] M Russian January 15, 2015 Rif Dimashq, Syria Shooting Alleged spying for the Federal Security Service
Haruna Yukawa M Japanese January 24, 2015 Deir ez-Zor, Syria Beheading Failure to pay Ransom and to send a message to Japan
Ofc. Hujam Surchi[12] M Kurdish January 28, 2015 Mosul, Iraq Beheading To send a message to the Peshmerga and Masoud Barzani
Kenji Goto M Japanese January 31, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Beheading Failure to pay Ransom and to send another message to Japan
Kayla Jean Mueller F American February 6, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Unknown execution method, Islamic State claimed that she had been killed in a Jordanian airstrike (proven wrong) Failure to pay Ransom
1 Ghanaian and 20 Coptic Christians M Coptic Egyptian and Ghanaian February 15, 2015 Tripolitania, Libya Beheading To send a message to the Christians and “Crusaders”, also to avenge Camelia Shehata Zakher
Muhammad Said Ismail Musallam[13] M Palestinian March 11, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Shooting Alleged spying for Mossad[13]
Mahmoud Khalaf[14] M Iraqi June 17, 2015 Diyala, Iraq Crucifixion, dismemberment and shooting Spying for the Peshmerga[14]
Bashir Abduladhim al-Saado[15] M Syrian July 6, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Shooting Allegedly participating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”
Faisal Hussain al-Habib[15] M Syrian July 6, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Shooting Allegedly participating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”
Tomislav Salopek M Croatian August 12, 2015 Sinai, Egypt Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
Mohamed al-Mousa al-Jasim M Syrian August 15, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Shooting Participating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”
Khaled Mohamad al-Asaad M Syrian August 18, 2015 Palmyra, Syria Beheading Protecting “idols” and being an “apostate”
Shamil Bagauddinovich Ibakov[16] M Dagestani Russian September 15, 2015 Buynaksky, Russia Shooting Witness to the prosecution of a Islamic State member[16]
Ashur Piro Abraham[17] M Assyrian September 23, 2015 Al-Hasakah, Syria Shooting To send a message to Syria and Christians
Basam Essa Michael[17] M Assyrian September 23, 2015 Al-Hasakah, Syria Shooting To send a message to Syria and Christians
Dr. Abdulmasih Enwiya[17] M Assyrian September 23, 2015 Al-Hasakah, Syria Shooting To send a message to Syria and Christians
Migitin Amirbekovich Jakatov[18] M Dagestani Russian September 30, 2015 Buynaksky, Russia Shooting Being the mayor of Karamakhi[18]
Saed al-Madani[19] M Libyan October 15, 2015 Sirte, Libya Beheading Allegedly practicing sorcery[19]
Adil Ali Hafith[19] M Libyan October 15, 2015 Sirte, Libya Beheading Allegedly practicing sorcery[19]
Rushdi Ageela Omran al-Masouri[20] M Libyan October 16, 2015 Derna, Libya Dragging Alleged spying for Libya
Muhammad Tayib Ali al-Amri[20] M Libyan October 16, 2015 Derna, Libya Shooting Stockpiling weapons in his home
Kuol Gai Owek Ajak[21] M Twic Dinka October 19, 2015 Derna, Libya Beheading To send a message to Christians
Faraj Ismael Abd Al-Hammed[21] M Libyan October 19, 2015 Derna, Libya Shooting Fighting in the Libyan Armed Forces
Fadi Ammar Zidan[22] M Syrian October 24, 2015 Al-Hasakah, Syria Ran over with a tank Running over the bodies of dead Islamic State members with a tank[22]
Seven Hazara Hostages M/F Afghani Hazara November 9, 2015 Zabul, Afghanistan Exsanguination To persecute Hazaras and Shi’ite Muslims
Fan Jinghui M Chinese November 18, 2015 Deir ez-Zor, Syria Shooting Failure to pay Ransom
Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad[23] M Norwegian November 18, 2015 Deir ez-Zor, Syria Shooting Failure to pay Ransom
Yevgeny Yudin "Magomed Khasiev"[24] M Russian December 2, 2015 Raqqa, Syria Beheading Spying for the Federal Security Service
Amjad Mohammed bin Sasi[25] M Libyan December, 2015 Sirte, Libya Shooting Allegedly insulting god
Milad Ahmed Abourgheba[19] M Libyan January 16, 2016 Sirte, Libya Shooting and crucifixion Fighting alongside Libya Dawn[19]
300+ Iraqi soldiers, law enforcement officers and civil activists ? Iraqi February 8, 2016 Mosul, Iraq Firing squad To send a message to Iraq
Ayham Hussein[26] M Iraqi February 16, 2016 Mosul, Iraq Beheading Listening to 'western music'[26]
John Bramwell Ridsdel M British-Canadian April 25, 2016 Sulu, Philippines Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
Abdul-Hadi Eisa Al-Salem[27] M Syrian May 3, 2016 Al-Tabqah, Syria Stabbing, shooting and crucifixion Alleged collaboration with coalition forces[27]
Robert Ward Hall M Canadian June 13, 2016 Sulu, Philippines Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
Magomed Nurbagandovich Nurbagandov M Dagestani Russian July 10, 2016 Sergokala, Russia Shooting Being a police officer
Patrick James Almodovar[28] M Filippino August 24, 2016 Indanan, Philippines Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
300 Iraqi civilians ? Iraqi October 28-November 7, 2016 Mosul, Iraq Unknown execution method Refusing to join and fight for the Islamic State
Pvt. Sefter Taş M Turkish December 22, 2016 Aleppo, Syria Immolation Turkish airstrikes against the Islamic State
Pvt. Fethi Şahin M Turkish December 22, 2016 Aleppo, Syria Immolation Turkish airstrikes against the Islamic State
Jürgen Gustav Kantner M German February 27, 2017 Sulu, Philippines Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
Li Xinheng[29] M Chinese June 8, 2017 Balochistan, Pakistan Exsanugation Revenge for recent Pakistani military operations
Meng Lisi[29] F Chinese June 8, 2017 Balochistan, Pakistan Exsanugation Revenge for recent Pakistani military operations
Noel Besconde M Filippino April 13, 2017 Patikul, Philippines Beheading Being sick and slowing movements[30]
SSgt. Anni Jani Siraji M Tausūg[31] April 23, 2017 Patikul, Philippines Beheading Revenge for recent Filipino military operations[32]
Cpt. Petrenko Evgeny Viktorovich M Russian May 8, 2017 Badiya, Syria Beheading Being a Russian intelligence officer[33]
Hoàng Trung Thông[34] M Vietnamese July 3, 2017 Basilan, Philippines Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
Hoàng Văn Hải[34] M Vietnamese July 3, 2017 Basilan, Philippines Beheading Failure to pay Ransom
Mohsen Hojaji M Iranian August 10, 2017 Iraqi-Syrian border, Iraq Beheading To send a message to Iran, “Rafidhis” (Shi’ite Muslims) and “Majusis” (Zoroastrians)
Capt. Azzam Eid[35] M Syrian November 30, 2017 Syria Immolation To send a message to Syria
Abdurahim Kituh[36] M Filippino January 5, 2018 Basilan, Philippines Beheading Giving information to the Philippine Army
Nadzwa Bahitla[36] F Filippino January 5, 2018 Basilan, Philippines Beheading Giving information to the Philippine Army
Muhannad Touqan Abu Ammar[37] M Syrian

Druze

 August 2, 2018 Suwayda, Syria Beheading To send a message to Syria
Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa F Nigerian September 17, 2018 Borno, Nigeria Shooting Failure to pay Ransom
Tharwat Fadel Abu Ammar[38] F Syrian

Druze

 October 1, 2018 Suwayda, Syria Shooting To send a message to Syria
Hauwa Mohammed Liman F Nigerian October 15, 2018 Borno, Nigeria Shooting Failure to pay Ransom
Louisa Vesterager Jespersen F Danish December 17, 2018 Toubkal, Morocco Beheading and stabbing Revenge for the Battle of Hajin
Maren Ueland F Norwegian December 17, 2018 Toubkal, Morocco Beheading and stabbing Revenge for the Battle of Hajin
Isnp. Johanna James[39] M Hausa[40] June 11, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
LCpl. Emmanuel Oscar[39] M Nigerian June 11, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
Ishaku Yakubu[41] M Nigerian July 22, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
Luka Filibus[41] M Nigerian July 22, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
Abdulrahman Dungus[41] M Nigerian July 22, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
Joseph Prince[41] M Nigerian July 22, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
Abdur-Rahman Bulama[41] M Nigerian July 22, 2020 Borno, Nigeria Shooting To send a message to Nigeria
11 Hazara Shi’ites M Pakistani Hazara January 3, 2021 Machh, Pakistan Exsanguination and shooting To persecute Hazaras and Shi’ite Muslims
Mohamed Ibrahim Hamdan[42] M Egyptian, Bedouin April 8, 2021 North Sinai, Egypt Shooting Alleged collaboration with Egyptian security forces
Swilam Ahmed Swilam[42] M Egyptian, Bedouin April 8, 2021 North Sinai, Egypt Shooting Alleged collaboration with Egyptian security forces
Nabil Habashi Salama[43] M Coptic Egyptian April 17, 2021 North Sinai, Egypt Shooting To send a message to Christians
Two Bedouin tribesmen[43] M Egyptian, Bedouin April 17, 2021 North Sinai, Egypt Shooting Collaborating with Egyptian security forces
Col. Yasser al-Jourani[44] M Iraqi December 28, 2021 Diyala, Iraq Beheading To send a message to Iraq
70 Congolese christians M/F Congolese February 12, 2025 Kasanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo Beheading To send a message to Christians
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Military captives

By June 2014, according to United Nations reports, ISIL had killed hundreds of prisoners of war[45] and over 1,000 civilians.[46][47][48] Specific incidents involving the killing of military prisoners including the mass killing of up to 250 Syrian Army soldiers near Tabqa Air base,[45] and killings that took place in Camp Speicher (1,095–1,700 Iraqi soldiers shot and "thousands" more "missing")[49][50] and the Shaer gas field (200 Syrian soldiers shot).[51] ISIL was reported to have beheaded about 100 foreign fighters as deserters who tried to leave Raqqa.[52]

Civilian captives

Among the known killings of religious and minority group civilians carried out by ISIL are those in the villages and towns of Qiiniyeh (70–90 Yazidis killed), Hardan (60 Yazidis killed), Sinjar (200–500 Yazidis killed), Ramadi Jabal (60–70 Yazidis killed), Dohula (50 Yazidis killed), Khana Sor (100 Yazidis killed), Hardan (250–300 Yazidis killed), al-Shamal (dozens of Yazidis killed), Kocho (400 Yazidis killed and 1,000 abducted), Jadala (14 Yadizis killed)[55] and Beshir (700 Shia Turkmen killed),[citation needed] and others committed near Mosul (670 Shia inmates of the Badush prison killed),[citation needed] and in Tal Afar prison, Iraq (205 Yazidis killed for refusing conversion).[55]

Journalists

ISIL has tortured and murdered both local and foreign journalists,[56][57] creating what Reporters Without Borders calls "news blackholes" in areas controlled by ISIL. ISIL fighters have reportedly been given written directions to kill or capture journalists.[58]

  • James Wright Foley (October 18, 1973 – c. August 19, 2014) was an American freelance journalist and photojournalist of the Syrian Civil War when he was abducted on November 22, 2012, in northwestern Syria. Foley was the first American citizen to be killed by "Jihadi John".[59] James Foley's beheading by ISIL received wide condemnation in the United States.
  • Steven Joel Sotloff (May 11, 1983 – c. September 2, 2014) was an Israeli-American[60] journalist for Time magazine and The Jerusalem Post, although the Post disavowed any relationship once Sotloff's life was threatened. In 2013, he was kidnapped in Aleppo, Syria, and was held captive by Islamic militants. On September 2, 2014, a video was released purporting to show "Jihadi John" beheading Steven Sotloff.[61][62]
  • On January 8, 2015, ISIL members in Libya claimed to have executed Tunisian journalists Sofiene Chourabi and Nadhir Ktari who disappeared in September 2014.[63]
  • In January 2015 ISIL threatened to kill two Japanese hostages, Kenji Goto Jogo, a journalist, and Haruna Yukawa (湯川遥菜), a military company operator, unless a ransom of 200 million USD is paid. By the end of the month, the group released another video of the beheading of Goto, in which Jihadi John proclaimed to Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe "because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin."[64]

Aid workers

ISIL has also murdered aid workers.

  • David Haines (May 9, 1970 – c. September 13, 2014) was abducted in March 2013 by ISIL while working in Syria for the humanitarian aid group Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development assessing the Atmeh refugee camp near the Turkish border and the Syrian province of Idlib.[65][66] A video of the lead-up and aftermath of David Haines' beheading, entitled "A Message to the Allies of America", was released by ISIL on September 13, 2014.[67]
  • Hervé Gourdel (September 12, 1959 – c. September 24, 2014) was a French citizen and mountaineering guide.[68] Gourdel was kidnapped on September 21, 2014, while hiking in the Djurdjura National Park in Algeria.[citation needed] The following day, an at the time recently formed ISIL affiliate in Algeria, Jund al-Khilafah, released a video which showed Hervé Gourdel being held hostage. The group threatened to kill Gourdel if the French government continued to conduct airstrikes against ISIL. On September 24, they carried through on threats to behead him after a 24-hour deadline passed.[69] The beheading was captured in a video titled "A Message of Blood for French Government."[70][71]
  • Alan Henning (August 15, 1967 – c. October 3, 2014) was a British humanitarian aid worker.[72] Henning was the fourth Western hostage killed by ISIL. Henning was captured during ISIL's occupation of the Syrian city of Al-Dana in December 2013, where he was helping with humanitarian relief.[73] The British Foreign Office withheld news of Henning's capture while they attempted to negotiate his release. Alan Henning was shown at the end of David Haines's beheading video, released on September 13, 2014, and referred to by "Jihadi John" as the next victim.[74][75] A video of Henning's beheading was released by ISIL on October 3, 2014.[72]
  • Peter Edward Kassig (February 19, 1988 – 2014),[76] also known by the name Abdul-Rahman Kassig which he assumed in captivity, was 26 years old at the time he was beheaded.[77] He was the adopted child of Ed, a school teacher, and Paula Kassig, a nurse.[78][79][80][81][82][83] On October 1, 2013, as he was on his way to Deir Ezzour in eastern Syria to deliver food and medical supplies to refugees, Kassig was taken captive by ISIL.[84][85] While in captivity, Kassig – formerly a Methodist – converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdul-Rahman Kassig, sometime between October and December 2013.[86][87] On October 3, 2014, his parents released a video in which they stressed that his conversion to Islam was not forced, and that his path to conversion began before he was taken captive.[86] On November 16, 2014, ISIL posted a video showing "Jihadi John" standing over a severed human head.[88] The beheading itself was not shown in the video. The White House later confirmed the person killed was Kassig.[89]
  • ISIL claimed that U.S. hostage Kayla Mueller was killed in the Jordanian airstrike on Raqqa on 5 February 2015. However, some experts believe that she may have been killed before the date of the video's release, in order for ISIL to try to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Jordan by blaming her death on the Jordanian airstrikes.[90][91][92] Shortly thereafter President Obama confirmed the death of Mueller by ISIL.[90][93][94][95]
  • On November 19, 2015, Chinese national Fan Jinghui (樊京辉[96]) and Norwegian national Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad were murdered by being shot by ISIL, and pictures were released in ISIL's magazine Dabiq.[97][98][99]
  • On June 8, 2020, four Christian Nigerian aid workers and their security guard, Ishaku Yakubu of Action Against Hunger, Luka Filibus (31) of the International Rescue Committee, Abdulrahman Dungus (28) of the REACH International Initiative, Abdur-Rahman Bulama a camp manager for the State Emergency Management Agency, and Joseph Prince a security guard with the Alje Security Organization were abducted in Borno State, on June 29 a quality of life video was released however 23 days later another video was released showing their execution by firing squad.[41][100][101]

See also

References

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