Beheading video
{{Short description|Form of propaganda depicting a live murder}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
A beheading video is a video which depicts a live murder by beheading or the aftermath (e.g., display of the severed head). Such videos are typically distributed mostly through the Internet,{{cite news|last=Stannard|first=Matthew B.|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/05/13/MNG6E6KL791.DTL|title=Beheading video seen as war tactic / Experts say terrorists employing grisly form of propaganda|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date= May 13, 2004|access-date=November 23, 2010}} and are often employed by groups seeking to instill shock or terror into a population. Although beheading has been a widely employed public execution method since the ancient Greeks and Romans,{{cite encyclopedia |last=Abbott|first=Geoffrey |title=Beheading |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/beheading |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=14 August 2019}} videos of this type only began to arise in 2002 with the beheading of Daniel Pearl and the growth of the Internet in the Information Age, which allowed groups to anonymously publish these videos for public consumption. The beheadings shown in these videos are usually not performed in a "classical" method — decapitating a victim quickly with a blow from a sword or axe — but by the relatively slow and torturous process of slicing and sawing the victim's neck, while still alive, with a knife.{{cite web|url=http://pando.com/2014/09/03/the-war-nerd-the-long-twisted-history-of-beheadings-as-propaganda/|title=The War Nerd: The long, twisted history of beheadings as propaganda|last=Brecher|first=Gary|website=PandoDaily|date=September 3, 2014|access-date=2019-12-09}}
History
The first beheading by the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty was of Daniel Pearl in 2002.{{Citation| last = Miles| first = Steven H.| author-link = Steven H. Miles| year = 2009| title = Oath Betrayed: American's Torture Doctures| publisher = University of California Press| edition = 2nd| page = [https://archive.org/details/oathbetrayedamer00mile/page/162 162]| isbn = 978-0-520-25968-3| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/oathbetrayedamer00mile/page/162}} Miles' claim matches the list in this article if we ignore the beheading of Daniel Pearl almost 27 months earlier in Pakistan. From at last some perspectives, it seems reasonable to classify the Pearl beheading as separate from the 10 beheadings in the 6 months following Abu Ghraib abuses entered the international consciousness. The match isn't perfect, because to get eleven beheadings after Abu Ghraib and before Miles' book appeared, we would either need an event not included in this article or we would need to include the beheading of Piotr Stańczak in Pakistan just over 4 years later. Nevertheless, the record seems largely to confirm Miles' suggestion of vengeance as a motive. He continues, "Pursuing justice differs from being consumed by revenge. The former proceeds from crime to investigation, to trial, to punishment, and then to closure. Vengeance is a whirlwind, where atrocity justifies revenge, and revenge becomes an atrocity." The videos were popularized in 2004 by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a radical Islamic militant.{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/zarqawi-foreshadowed-iraq-chaos-2014-7 |title=The Most Extreme Faction Of Al Qaeda Is Winning, And It's Leading To The Destruction Of Iraq |first=Armin |last=Rosen |date=15 July 2014 |access-date=10 October 2018 |work=Business Insider}}
The videos caused controversy among Islamic scholars, some of whom denounced them as against Islamic law; al-Qaeda did not approve and Osama bin Laden considered them poor public relations. Regardless, they became popular with certain Islamic terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/08/22/even-al-qaeda-denounced-beheading-videos-why-the-islamic-state-brought-them-back/|title=Even al-Qaeda denounced beheading videos. Why the Islamic State brought them back.|last=Bloom|first=Mia|author-link=Mia Bloom|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=August 23, 2014}}
Early videos were grainy and unsophisticated, but, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, had by 2004 been "growing in sophistication, using animated graphics and editing techniques apparently aimed at embellishing the audio to make a victim's final moments seem more disturbing".{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1549085.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921194733/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1549085.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2014|title=Terrorists sense power in beheading videos|last=Shrader|first=Katherine Pfleger|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 29, 2004|access-date=August 23, 2014|url-access=}} These videos are often uploaded to the Internet by terrorists, then discussed and distributed by web-based outlets,{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Ewan|title=James Foley: Police Warn Watching Beheading Video Is A \'Terrorist Offence\'|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/james-foley-police-warn-watching-beheading-video-terrorist-offence-1461974|access-date=23 August 2014|work=International Business Times|date=August 20, 2014}} such as blogs, shock sites, and traditional journalistic media. In 2013, a beheading video by a Mexican drug cartel spread virally on Facebook. The non-profit organization Family Online Safety Institute petitioned Facebook to remove the video.{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2013/1031/Facebook-graphic-content-woes-When-are-beheading-videos-okay|title=Facebook graphic content woes: When are beheading videos okay?|last=Karis|first=Hustad|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=October 31, 2013|access-date=August 23, 2014}} Initially, Facebook refused.{{cite news |last=Su |first=Reissa |title=Beheaded Woman in Viral Video on Facebook 'Unknown,' Authorities Not Investigating (VIDEO) |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/519273/20131104/beheaded-woman-facebook-mexico-drug-cartel-narco.htm#.VFShQNapdKp |access-date=1 November 2014 |work=International Business Times |date=4 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031161337/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/519273/20131104/beheaded-woman-facebook-mexico-drug-cartel-narco.htm#.VFShQNapdKp |archive-date=31 October 2014 }} They later complied,{{cite news|last1=Grant|first1=Will|title=Facebook beheading video: Who was Mexico's Jane Doe?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24772724|access-date=4 November 2014|work=BBC News|date=4 November 2013}} and subsequently clarified their policies, stating that beheading videos would only be allowed if posted in a manner intended for its users to "condemn" the acts.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/net-us-facebook-violence-idUSBRE99K14020131021|title=Gory videos OK when posted for users to 'condemn': Facebook|last=Oreskovic|first=Alexei|work=Reuters|date=October 21, 2013|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006194855/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/21/net-us-facebook-violence-idUSBRE99K14020131021|url-status=live}}
Writing in The Atlantic, Simon Cottee drew a comparison between jihadist videos and gonzo pornography.{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/09/isis-jihadist-propaganda-videos-porn/380117/ |title=The Pornography of Jihadism |work=The Atlantic |last=Cottee|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Cottee |date=September 12, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2015}}
Videos released
= 1996–1999 =
- An unidentified Russian soldier was beheaded in 1996 in Chechnya by resistance fighters during the First Chechen war, known as "Chechclear".{{cn|date=December 2024}}
- One officer and five enlisted men in the Russian military were decapitated on film during the Tukhchar massacre on September 5, 1999.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
= 2002 =
- Daniel Pearl, U.S. citizen, beheaded February 1, 2002, in Pakistan by al-Qaeda jihadists.{{cite news |title=Reporter Daniel Pearl Is Dead, Killed by His Captors in Pakistan |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1014311357552611480 |access-date=September 19, 2014 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 24, 2002 }}{{cite news |last=Ansari |first=Massoud |title=Daniel Pearl 'refused to be sedated before his throat was cut' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/1461368/Daniel-Pearl-refused-to-be-sedated-before-his-throat-was-cut.html |access-date=September 19, 2014 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=May 9, 2004}}
- A video (published in July 2002 by the FSB) shows a woman being beheaded by alleged henchmen of Chechen commander Movsar Barayev.{{cite web|last=Fochkin|first=Oleg|url=https://www.mk.ru/old/article/2002/10/25/160630-vampir-s-rodoslovnoy.html|title=Вампир с родословной|work=Moskovskij Komsomolets|date=25 October 2002|access-date=24 December 2018|language=ru}}
= 2004 =
- Nick Berg, U.S. citizen, beheaded May 7, 2004, in Iraq by Muntada al-Ansar jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=Bill|title=Video shows beheading of American captive|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-05-11-iraq-beheading_x.htm|access-date=September 19, 2014|website=USA Today|date=May 11, 2004}}
- Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr., U.S. citizen, beheaded in June 2004 in Saudi Arabia by al-Qaeda jihadists.{{cite news|title=American hostage beheaded in Saudi Arabia|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-06-18-saudi-search_x.htm|access-date=September 19, 2014|website=USA Today|date=June 18, 2004}}
- Kim Sun-il, South Korean citizen, beheaded in June 2004 in Iraq by jihadists of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (JTJ).{{cite news|last1=Sohn |first1=Jie-ae |last2=Faraj |first2=Caroline |title=Pentagon: South Korean hostage beheaded |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/22/iraq.hostage/ |access-date=September 19, 2014 |publisher=CNN |date=June 23, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040625225503/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/22/iraq.hostage/ |archive-date=June 25, 2004 }}{{cite news|last1=Spinner|first1=Jackie|last2=Faiola|first2=Anthony|title=S. Korean Is Beheaded in Iraq|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62068-2004Jun22.html|access-date=September 19, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 23, 2004}}
- Georgi Lazov, Bulgarian citizen, beheaded in July 2004 in Iraq by JTJ jihadists.{{cite news|title=Video Shows Beheading of Iraq Hostage|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/video-shows-beheading-of-iraq-hostage/|access-date=September 19, 2014|agency=Associated Press|via=Fox News|date=August 9, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227143420/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/08/09/video-shows-beheading-iraq-hostage/|archive-date=December 27, 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Beheading of 2nd Bulgarian captive confirned|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5650761|access-date=September 19, 2014|agency=Associated Press|via=NBC News|date=August 11, 2004}}
- Mohammed Mutawalli, Egyptian citizen, beheaded in August 2004 in Iraq by JTJ jihadists.{{cite news|url=http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/foreign/11-Aug-2004/egyptian-spy-beheaded-in-iraq |title='Egyptian spy' beheaded in Iraq |work=Daily Times |date=August 11, 2004 |access-date=September 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001624/http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/foreign/11-Aug-2004/egyptian-spy-beheaded-in-iraq |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}
- One Nepali citizen, beheaded in August 2004 in Iraq by JTJ jihadists.{{cite news|last=Youssef|first=Nancy A.|title=Extremists in Iraq execute 12 Nepalese workers One was beheaded; the others, shot. The group said they were killed for helping the U.S. against Islam.|url=http://articles.philly.com/2004-09-01/news/25375900_1_ansar-georges-malbrunot-christian-chesnot|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=September 1, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218180440/http://articles.philly.com/2004-09-01/news/25375900_1_ansar-georges-malbrunot-christian-chesnot|archive-date=2014-12-18}}
- Eugene Armstrong, U.S. citizen, beheaded in September 2004 in Iraq by JTJ jihadists.{{cite news|title=American Hostage Beheaded in Iraq; Bush, Kerry Agree to Debate; Can Rather Survive Memogate?|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0409/20/acd.00.html|access-date=September 19, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=September 20, 2004}}{{cite news|last1=Faraj|first1=Caroline|last2=al-Hilli|first2=Thaira|last3=Muhy|first3=Bassem|last4=Qasira|first4=Faris|last5=Tawfeeq|first5=Mohammed|title=Report: Al-Zarqawi group kills American hostage|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/09/21/iraq.beheading/|access-date=September 19, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=September 22, 2004}}
- Jack Hensley, U.S. citizen, beheaded in September 2004 in Iraq by JTJ jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Glen|title=Video Claims to Show Terrorist Group ISIS Beheading U.S. Journalist James Foley|url=http://ktla.com/2014/08/19/video-shows-terrorist-group-isis-beheading-u-s-journalist-james-foley/|access-date=September 19, 2014|publisher=KTLA|date=August 19, 2014}}
- Kenneth Bigley, British citizen, beheaded on October 7, 2004 in Iraq by JTJ jihadists.{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Rory|title=Sad, bloody end to Bigley saga|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/oct/09/iraq.world1|access-date=September 19, 2014|work=The Guardian|date=October 9, 2004}}
- Shosei Koda, Japanese citizen, beheaded on October 29, 2004, in Iraq by jihadists of al-Qaeda in Iraq.{{cite news|last=Shubert|first=Atika|title=Beheaded Japanese to be flown home|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/31/japan.hostage/index.html?iref=mpstoryview|access-date=September 19, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=November 1, 2004}}{{cite news|title=Video shows beheading of Japanese hostage|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6373920|access-date=September 19, 2014|agency=Associated Press|via=NBC News|date=November 2, 2004}}
= 2005–2013 =
- Shamil Odamanov, Russian citizen of Dagestani descent. Odamanov was beheaded in 2007 by Russian neo-Nazis.{{cite news|last=Schwirtz|first=Michael|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/world/europe/09iht-russia.4.13582443.html|title=Family identifies son in Russian beheading video|work=The New York Times|date=9 June 2008|access-date=24 December 2018}}
- Nikolay Melnik, Kazakhstani citizen, beheaded July 18, 2008, in Podyachevo{{Which|date=January 2025}}, Russia by his fellow neo-Nazi Konstantin Nikiforenko of the NSO-North.{{cite web|last=Aleksandrov|first=German|url= http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2011/07/11/868286.html |title=Наша совесть выше ваших законов|website=Rosbalt.ru|date=11 July 2011|access-date=24 December 2018|language=ru}}{{cite news|last1=Gerasimenko|first1=Olesya|last2=Shmarayeva|first2=Elena|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1681380|title=Дело тринадцати|work=Kommersant Vlast|date=25 July 2011|issue=29|page=20|access-date=24 December 2018|language=ru}}
- Piotr Stańczak, Polish citizen, beheaded on February 7, 2009, in Pakistan by Tehreek-e-Taliban jihadists.{{cite news |last=Shah |first=Saeed |title=Polish man beheaded in Pakistani militant video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/09/pakistani-militants-behead-polish |access-date=September 19, 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 9, 2009}}
- Two Shiite Muslims, beheaded in 2012, in Pakistan by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi jihadists. {{Cite web |last=web.desk |date=2012-08-24 |title=Lashkar-e-Jhangvi releases Shia beheading video: Report |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/425695/lashkar-e-jhangvi-releases-shia-beheading-video |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=The Express Tribune}}
= 2014 =
- James Foley, U.S. citizen, beheaded August 19, 2014, south of Raqqa, Syria by jihadists of the Islamic State (IS).{{cite web|last1=Abdulrahim|first1=Raja |last2=Semuels |first2=Alana|title=Militants blame U.S. for their apparent beheading of U.S. journalist|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-james-foley-islamic-state-20140819-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=19 August 2014|access-date=August 20, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Vincent|first=Michael |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-20/is-releases-journalist-beheading-video-in-a/5683154|title=IS releases journalist beheading video in a message to the US|website=ABC Online|date=August 20, 2014|access-date=August 23, 2014}}
- Four Egyptians, beheaded in August 2014 in Sheikh Zuweid, by Ansar Bait al-Maqdis jihadists.{{Cite news |last=Kingsley |first=Patrick |date=2014-08-28 |title=Sinai jihadist group says it has beheaded four men |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/sinai-jihaidst-beheads-ansar-beit-al-maqdis |access-date=2023-04-29 |issn=0261-3077}}
- Steven Sotloff, U.S. citizen, beheaded in August 2014, south of Raqqa, Syria by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Chelsea J.|last2=Ashley|first2=Fantz|title=ISIS video shows beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/world/meast/isis-american-journalist-sotloff/|access-date=September 19, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=September 9, 2014}}
- David Cawthorne Haines, U.K. citizen, beheaded in September 2014 in Syria by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Callimachi|first1=Rukmini|last2=De Freytas-Tamura|first2=Kimiko|title=ISIS Video Shows Execution of David Cawthorne Haines, British Aid Worker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/world/middleeast/islamic-state-says-it-has-executed-david-cawthorne-haines-british-aid-worker.html?_r=0|access-date=September 19, 2014|website=The New York Times|date=September 13, 2014}}
- Hervé Gourdel, French citizen, beheaded in September 2014, east of Algiers, Algeria by Jund al-Khilafah jihadists supporting IS.{{cite news|last1=Almasy|first1=Steve|last2=Meilhan|first2=Pierre|first7=Jason|last7=Hanna|last3=Vitagliano|first3=Brian|last4=Mazloumsaki|first4=Sara|last5=Lopez|last6=Fantz|first5=Elwyn|first6=Ashley|title=French President: Islamic extremists beheaded French hostage|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/africa/algeria-france-hostage-beheading/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|access-date=September 24, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=September 24, 2014}}
- Alan Henning, U.K. citizen, beheaded in October 2014, in Syria by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Chelsea J. |last2=Castillo|first2=Mariano |last3=Abdelaziz|first3=Salma |title=ISIS video claims to show beheading of Alan Henning; American threatened|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/03/world/meast/isis-alan-henning-beheading/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|access-date=October 4, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=October 4, 2014}}
- Peter Kassig, U.S, citizen beheaded in November 2014, in Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Castillo|first1=Mariano|last2=Brumfield|first2=Ben|title=Obama calls hostage's beheading by ISIS 'pure evil'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/16/world/meast/isis-kassig-killing-images/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|access-date=November 16, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=November 16, 2014}}
- Eighteen Syrian soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army, beheaded in November 2014, in Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria by IS jihadists.{{cite news|title=Abdul-Rahman Kassig killing is pure evil, says Obama|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30076629|access-date=November 17, 2014|work=BBC News|date=November 16, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Wkye|first1=Thomas|title=Jihadi John Leads Systematic Beheading of Peter Kassig and 18 Syrian Pilots|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jihadi-john-leads-systematic-beheading-peter-kassig-20-syrian-pilots-1475053|access-date=November 16, 2014|work=International Business Times|date=November 16, 2014}}
= 2015 =
- Haruna Yukawa, Japanese citizen, beheaded in January 2015 by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Yoshida|first1=Reiji|title=Purported Islamic State video shows hostage Goto claiming Yukawa has been executed|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/25/national/islamic-state-hostage-goto-video-purported-image-yukawas-corpse-voice-demanding-prisoner-swap/#.VM7RaXapdKp|access-date=2 February 2015|work=The Japan Times|date=25 January 2015}}
- Kenji Goto, Japanese citizen, beheaded in January 2015 near Raqqa, Syria, by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Yoshida|first1=Reiji|last2=Kameda|first2=Masaaki|title=Goto beheaded by Islamic State militants|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/02/01/national/islamic-state-group-purportedly-releases-goto-execution-video/#.VM7RHXapdKp|access-date=February 2, 2015|work=The Japan Times|date=February 1, 2015}}
- Twenty-one Egyptian Coptic Christians, beheaded in February 2015 near Tripoli, Libya, by IS jihadists.{{cite news|title=ISIS video appears to show beheadings of Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/15/middleeast/isis-video-beheadings-christians/index.html|access-date=February 16, 2015|publisher=CNN|date=February 16, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Kirkpatrick|first1=David D.|last2=Callimachi|first2=Rukmini|title=Islamic State Video Shows Beheadings of Egyptian Christians in Libya|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/16/world/middleeast/islamic-state-video-beheadings-of-21-egyptian-christians.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0|access-date=February 16, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=February 15, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Gittens|first1=Hasani|last2=Johnson|first2=M. Alex|title=U.S. Condemns 'Heinous' Beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by ISIS|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/u-s-condemns-heinous-beheading-21-egyptian-christians-isis-n306721|access-date=February 16, 2015|work=NBC News|date=February 15, 2015}}
- Twenty-eight Ethiopian Christians, beheaded in Libya in April 2015 by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Tait|first1=Robert|title=Three Christians beheaded by Isil were Eritreans who were 'encouraged to leave Israel'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/eritrea/11552385/Three-Christians-beheaded-by-Isil-were-Eritreans-who-were-encouraged-to-leave-Israel.html|access-date=1 May 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=21 April 2015}}
- A video (article published July 2015) shows a boy executing a Syrian Arab Army soldier using a knife in Palmyra.{{cite news|last=Webb|first=Sam |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/isis-give-child-executioner-drugs-6087005|title=Did ISIS give child executioner drugs before forcing him to behead a soldier?|work=Daily Mirror|date= 17 July 2015|access-date=2015-11-27}}
- Four Kurdish Peshmerga members, beheaded in Iraq in October 2015 by IS jihadists.{{cite news|last1=Almasy|first1=Steve|title=ISIS video purportedly shows beheadings of Kurdish fighters in Iraq|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/30/middleeast/isis-iraq-hawija-executions-video/index.html|access-date=31 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=31 October 2015}}
- A video showing the beheading of a Russian spy agent by an IS fighter, who is threatening Russia and President Vladimir Putin with attacks, was released in December 2015.{{Cite web |last=Botelho |first=Greg |date=2015-12-02 |title=ISIS video claims beheading of Russian spy, threatens Russian people |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/02/middleeast/isis-russian-beheading-claim/index.html |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=CNN}}{{Cite web |last=Tsvetkova |first=Maria |title=A Russian man beheaded by ISIS in December was reportedly a 'spy' who lived a double life |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/a-russian-man-beheaded-by-isis-in-december-was-reportedly-a-spy-who-lived-a-double-life-2015-12 |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Business Insider}}
= 2016 =
- John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, Canadian citizens, beheaded in April 2016 and June 2016 respectively in the Philippines by Abu Sayyaf jihadists.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/few-signs-of-canadian-investigation-into-abu-sayyaf-beheadings-in-philippines-1.4047253 |title=Few signs of Canadian investigation into Abu Sayyaf beheadings in Philippines |first1=Sylvia |last1=Thomson |first2=Adrienne |last2=Arsenault |author2-link=Adrienne Arsenault |publisher=CBC News |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=1 July 2017}}
- Abdullah Tayseer Al Issa, Palestinian citizen, beheaded in July 2016 in Syria by Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement rebels, allegedly of the Liwa al-Quds: this incident precipitated the end of Timber Sycamore in Syria.{{cite news |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/7/21/boy-beheaded-by-syrian-rebels-was-19-year-old-regime-fighter |title=Boy beheaded by Syrian rebels was '19-year-old regime fighter' |date=21 July 2016 |access-date=1 October 2018 |newspaper=The New Arab}}
=2017=
- Jürgen Kantner, German citizen, beheaded in February 2017 in the Philippines by Abu Sayyaf jihadists.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39170612 |title=Philippine army finds body of beheaded German hostage Jurgen Kantner |date=5 March 2017 |access-date=21 June 2019 |work=BBC News}}
- IS has released a video claiming to show one of its jihadists beheading a Russian officer.{{Cite web |last=Beirut |first=Richard Spencer |date=2024-06-02 |title=Isis release video of 'Russian officer's beheading' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/article/isis-release-video-of-russian-officer-being-beheaded-zrgldz95h |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=The Times}}
- Muhammad "Hamadi" Abdullah al-Ismail, Syrian citizen who allegedly deserted the Syrian Arab Army, tortured with a sledgehammer and beheaded near the al-Shaer oil fields, Homs Governorate, Syria (the first footage appeared online in June 2017) by Russian mercenaries linked to the Wagner Group.{{cite news|last=Cole|first=Brendan |url=https://www.newsweek.com/syria-wagner-russia-mercenaries-1473259 |title=Russian Mercenaries Torture, Behead and Set Alight Syrian Man Who Fled Assad's Army, Says Newspaper |work=Newsweek|date=21 November 2019|access-date=2019-12-09}}
=2018=
- Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, Danish citizen, and Maren Ueland, Norwegian citizen, beheaded in December 2018 in Morocco by alleged IS jihadists.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/109558306/murder-video-of-two-female-scandinavian-tourists-in-morocco-likely-authentic|title=Murder video of female Scandinavian tourist in Morocco 'likely authentic'|website=Stuff|date=22 December 2018|access-date=24 December 2018}}
=2019=
- Ayafor Florence, Cameroonian citizen who worked as a wardress at the Bamenda Central Prison, beheaded on September 29, 2019 in Pinyin, Northwest Region, Cameroon by Ambazonian militants.{{cite web|last=Azohnwi |first=Atia T.|url=http://www.cameroon-info.net/article/cameroon-anglophone-crisis-video-of-separatist-fighters-slaughtering-wardress-ayafor-florence-stuns-the-world-353502.html |title=Cameroon – Anglophone Crisis: Video Of Separatist Fighters Slaughtering Wardress Ayafor Florence Stuns The World|website=Cameroon-Info.Net|date=4 October 2019|access-date=2019-12-09}}
=2021=
- A TikTok video showing a person being beheaded was uploaded by the user @mayengg03 and went viral. The clip starts with a young girl dancing in front of a camera, before switching to a different video with unrelated people where the beheading occurs. TikTok removed the video.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-07 |title=Gory beheading video inserted into notorious TikTok to shock users |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/tiktok-girl-bathroom-beheading-video-viral-b1861074.html |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=The Independent}}
- An Egyptian man beheaded a victim and wandered in the street while holding up the severed head in broad daylight.{{cite news|last=Tabikha|first=Kamal|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2021/11/01/video-of-beheading-in-egyptian-city-sparks-nationwide-horror/|title=Video of beheading in Egyptian city sparks nationwide horror|work=The National (Abu Dhabi)|date= 1 November 2021|access-date=2021-11-11}}
=2022=
- Kanhaiya Lal, a Hindu tailor, was murdered during an attempted beheading following the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy in India. The two Muslim perpetrators recorded themselves committing the crime but fled from the scene after slicing the victim's throat.{{cite news |title=Udaipur Tailor's Killers Attacked At Court, How It Happened: 10 Latest Facts |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/udaipur-tailors-killers-attacked-at-court-how-it-happened-10-latest-facts-3121495 |access-date=2 July 2022 |work=NDTV |date=1 July 2022}}
=2023=
- A Ukrainian soldier was beheaded by Russians on a video during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news |last1=Cotovio |first1=Vasco |last2=Carey |first2=Andrew |last3=Pennington |first3=Josh |last4=Kesaieva |first4=Yulia |title=Zelensky slams 'beasts' who purportedly beheaded Ukrainian soldiers after video emerges |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/11/europe/beheading-videos-ukraine-intl-hnk-ml/index.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |work=CNN |date=2023-04-12}}
= 2024 =
- An unemployed Pennsylvania resident and self-proclaimed militia leader uploaded a 14-minute YouTube video that displayed the severed head of his father, whom he said "is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to this country". Police subsequently confirmed that the father had died and his head had been removed, and charged him with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/justin-mohn-man-decapitates-father-1865488|title=Who is Justin Mohn? Man Decapitates Father, Shows Head on YouTube—Police|work=Newsweek|date=January 31, 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/justin-mohn-video-anti-militia-bill-conspiracy-theories-1865703|title=Justin Mohn Video Sparks 'Anti-Militia Bill' Conspiracy Theories|work=Newsweek|date=January 31, 2024 }}{{Cite web |last1=Winter |first1=Tom |last2=Antonshchuk |first2=Valeriya |last3=Smith |first3=Patrick |last4=Radnofsky |first4=Caroline |date=2024-01-31 |title=Pennsylvania man arrested after posting YouTube video of father's decapitated head |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pa-man-arrested-decapitating-father-youtube-video-rcna136509 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=NBC News}} The video was removed from YouTube about five hours after it was published and the YouTube channel was terminated.{{Cite web |title=A beheading video was on YouTube for hours, raising questions about why it wasn't taken down sooner |url=https://whyy.org/articles/levittown-beheading-video-justin-mohn-youtube/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=WHYY}}
Hoax
A hoax beheading video filmed by Benjamin Vanderford, Robert Martin, and Laurie Kirchner in 2004 received wide attention from the American press.{{cite news|last1=Guthrie|first1=Julian|last2=Wallace|first2=Bill|title=Web hoax fools news services|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Web-hoax-fools-news-services-S-F-man-fakes-2702773.php|access-date=October 3, 2014|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 8, 2004}} The video used Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad's logo, but not the group's flag. It was originally filmed for Vanderford's local election campaign.{{cite news|title=Man fakes own decapitation in video|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/08/1091903424028.html?from=storylhs|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=The Age|date=August 8, 2004}} He was seeking Matt Gonzalez's seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.{{cite news|last1=DiMassa|first1=Cara Mia|last2=Hollis|first2=Robert|title=Region & State Man Fakes Own Beheading Video|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-08-me-video8-story.html|access-date=October 3, 2014|website=Los Angeles Times|date=August 8, 2004}} Vanderford's second intention was to point out how uncritically the mainstream media would accept an anonymous video.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5629119|title=American fakes own decapitation in tape|via=NBC News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 7, 2004|access-date=November 23, 2010}} The Islamic Global Media Center claimed to have made the video, but removed it from their website after the hoax was discovered.{{cite news|title=American's Iraq 'Beheading' a Hoax|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/americans-iraq-beheading-a-hoax/|access-date=October 3, 2014|agency=Associated Press|via=Fox News|date=August 8, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413071035/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/08/08/american-iraq-beheading-hoax/|archive-date=April 13, 2015|url-status=live}} The video also appeared on other militant websites and was broadcast on Arabic television.{{cite news|title=US man made hoax execution video|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3544032.stm|access-date=October 3, 2014|work=BBC News|date=August 7, 2004}}{{cite news|title=Iraq Beheading Video Of US Man A Hoax |url=http://news.sky.com/story/286773/iraq-beheading-video-of-us-man-a-hoax |access-date=October 3, 2014 |publisher=Sky News |date=August 9, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112802/http://news.sky.com/story/286773/iraq-beheading-video-of-us-man-a-hoax |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101218023822/http://www.spike.com/video/ben-vanderfords-hoax/2686941 "Ben Vanderford Hoax Video"] - Spike TV
- Jones, Ronald H. [http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ssi/terr_beheadings.pdf "Terrorist Beheadings: Cultural and Strategic Implications"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502004830/http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ssi/terr_beheadings.pdf |date=2017-05-02 }}. Hosted at Air University
Category:Propaganda techniques by medium