Posted on 09/04/2014 12:29:25 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The family of Steven Sotloff, the second American journalist beheaded by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants, said on Wednesday he was “a gentle soul,” and challenged the group's leader to a debate on the peaceful teachings of the Muslim holy book, the Quran.
The group, which has captured territory in Syria and Iraq, released a video on Tuesday of Sotloff being beheaded. U.S. officials confirmed its authenticity on Wednesday. President Barack Obama vowed to “degrade and destroy” the group.
Watch: Sotloff’s mother pleads ISIS to release her son.
Barak Barfi, a friend of Sotloff who is serving as family spokesman, began a prepared statement from the family in English, remembering the slain journalist as a fan of American football who enjoyed junk food, the television series “South Park” and talking to his father about golf.
The 31-year-old Sotloff was “torn between two worlds,” the statement said, but “the Arab world pulled him.”
“He was no war junkie ... He merely wanted to give voice to those who had none,” Barfi said outside the family’s one-story home in a leafy Miami suburb.
Barfi ended the statement with off-the-cuff remarks in Arabic, saying “Steve died a martyr for the sake of God.”
He then challenged Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to debate Islam, saying, “Woe to you. You said the month of Ramadan is the month of mercy. Where is your mercy?”
“God does not love the aggressor,” added Barfi, who is an Arabic scholar and research fellow at the New America Foundation think tank in Washington.
He went on, “I am ready to debate you with kind preachings. I have no sword in my hand and I am ready for your answer.”
The other American hostage killed in recent weeks in retaliation for U.S. air strikes against Islamic State forces in Iraq was journalist James Foley, who was shown being beheaded in a video released on Aug. 19.
Sotloff was a freelance journalist who traveled the Middle East writing for the magazines Time and Foreign Policy, among others.
“Steve was no hero,” the family said in its statement.
“Like all of us, he was a mere man who tried to find good concealed in a world of darkness. And if it did not exist, he tried to create it. He always sought to help those less privileged than himself, offering career services and precious contacts to newcomers in the region.”
Sotloff was kidnapped in Syria in August 2013 after he drove across the border from Turkey.
He grew up in the Miami area and studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. A spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry said on social media website Twitter that Sotloff also was an Israeli citizen.
Sotloff “yearned for a tranquil life where he could enjoy Miami Dolphins games on Sunday,” his family said.
“This week we mourn,” it added. “But we will emerge from this ordeal ... We will not allow our enemies to hold us hostage with the sole weapon they possess - fear.”
Last Update: Thursday, 4 September 2014 KSA 08:15 - GMT 05:15
So they all want to be beheaded?
Yeah, what could go wrong!
The debate would be over pretty quick with one question. Which one of us is acting more like Mohammed?
There are moderate Muslims. And there are good Muslims. But, by definition, there are no good, moderate Muslims.
There is nothing to debate, unless the invitation was used as a ruse to get them into a small area, where you could call in some 155s.
By Muslim standards, a good Muslims smashes planes into buildings, killing thousands and chops the heads off of people.
That is a good Muslim.
my first thought was this
Leaders of a majority of nations continue to call islam peaceful. Many of those leaders are leaders of Western Nations. The day islam becomes peaceful which can only be brought to peace by eradicating islam from the Earth, then and then only, will there be some semblance of peace. Isn’t it ironic that iran is helping iraq? But of course, the reason iran is helping is ... iran wants iraq as another terrorist base for their form of terrorists. islam is terrorists. The entire religion is terrorists. Deny ... Deny ... Deny is our leaders view. Death wishes bcause in islam there is no Best Wishes.
bring words to a sword fight and it won't be pretty...
Family friend Mr. Barfi best not draw undue attention to himself by issuing a public dare. Be carful what you ask for, because you might get it. ISIS has ‘cells’ within these United States, it is said. I don’t mean he should cower and hide in the dark. I mean he should never forget that ISIS is full of those who thrive on inflicting pain and misery, and most their members cannot or will not spend time debating semantics with an outsider. Why overtax the brain pretending to ‘debate’ him, when killing is far easier and more satisfying to these barbarians.
really? a “debate”?
There is nothing to debate, unless the invitation was used as a ruse to get them into a small area, where you could call in some 155s.
fool..they’ll just behead you too. Why does these people get it?
Why DON’T these people get it..cripes, need sleep.
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