John Cantlie: ISIS Hostage or ISIS Spokesman?

John Cantlie: ISIS Hostage or ISIS Spokesman?
John Cantlie: ISIS Hostage or ISIS Spokesman?

John Cantlie writes articles for the ISIS magazine Dabiq and appears in videos, which extol ISIS work and condemn American and British governments.

By Rakesh Raman

Officially, John Cantlie is a hostage of the terrorist outfit ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). But unlike other ISIS hostages who have been beheaded or burnt alive by ISIS, British photo journalist Cantlie is being treated with respect, with compassion by the militants.

Now, he doesn’t wear the customary orange-color jumpsuit that ISIS prisoners wear before being executed. Rather, Cantlie dons a sexy attire and moves freely in the ISIS Caliphate, which is under development.

But why this special treatment to Cantlie? Perhaps his journalistic skills have come to his rescue. Today, Cantlie is a top spokesman for the world’s most brutal organization.

He writes articles for the ISIS magazine Dabiq and appears in videos, which extol ISIS work and condemn the crusaders including American and British governments.

[ President Obama: We Are Not at War with Islam ]

“If the mujāhidīn ask me to shoot a video or write an article that in some small way sticks it to a political system that simply doesn’t care about its citizens, despite endlessly saying the contrary, then I jump at the chance,” Cantlie said in a recent Dabiq article.

Meanwhile, the AlHayat Media Center of ISIS has released a short film titled “From Inside Halab” in which Cantlie has appeared as a host.

Earlier in a video, he said his government has abandoned him and he has nothing to lose. “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 unwinnable conflict?” Cantlie asked.

It’s believed that Cantlie along with James Foley was kidnapped by ISIS in Syria in November 2012. After almost two years of hostageship, Cantlie has all praise for ISIS. Obviously. At the same time, he has plenty of disrespect for politicians.

[ No Democracy in India. It Is Parliamentary Dictatorship. ]

“I had never voted in my life because I figured that all politicians were, by nature, public school liars who would just say whatever needed to be said to get into power and then do exactly the same as the leader before them except wearing a different-colored tie,” Cantlie said in the recent Dabiq article.

He praised ISIS saying, “Despite being a prisoner, I’ve been shown respect and kindness, which I haven’t seen from my own government.”

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State (IS) is a militant organization.

With a strong force of more than 30,000 fighters under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it is attacking different nations with the aim to set up a large Islamic State called the Caliphate.

By Rakesh Raman, the managing editor of RMN Company

You also can read: More Articles by the RMN Editor, Rakesh Raman

This article is part of our RMN editorial section Wars and Conflicts that carries related news and views from all parts of the world.

Support RMN News Service for Independent Fearless Journalism

In today’s media world controlled by corporates and politicians, it is extremely difficult for independent editorial voices to survive. Raman Media Network (RMN) News Service has been maintaining editorial freedom and offering objective content for the past more than 12 years despite enormous pressures and extreme threats. In order to serve you fearlessly in this cut-throat world, RMN News Service urges you to support us financially with your donations. You may please click here and choose the amount that you want to donate. Thank You. Rakesh Raman, Editor, RMN News Service.

RMN News

Rakesh Raman