Brussels, 17/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - After US humanitarian aid worker Peter Kassig was killed by Islamic State (IS), High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides stated on Sunday 16 November that the EU was determined to fight the threat of IS.
“We remain fully committed to tackle the threat posed by ISIL/Daesh and other terrorist organisations in Syria and Iraq”, say Mogherini and Styliandes in their joint statement. They stressed that the “brutal murder” of Kassig and the Syrian soldiers was “another illustration of ISIL/Daesh's resolve to pursue its terror agenda, in breach of all universally recognised values and rights”. “All perpetrators of human rights abuses must be held accountable”, they added, saying that the EU would spare no effort towards this objective.
Several heads of state and government and European foreign affairs ministers have also condemned the murder of Kassig. The UK's Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “horrified by the cold-blooded murder” of the humanitarian aid worker. In the view of France's President François Hollande, this decapitation and those of the Syrian soldiers are “crimes against humanity” and “barbarian acts”. Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders described the decapitation as “repugnant murder”, adding that “IS, which commits massive violations of human rights every day, will have to answer for its crimes”.
Peter Kassig, 26, was beheaded by IS. A French national was reportedly one of his torturers. Kassig is the fifth Western hostage to be murdered by members of IS. In a video posted on the internet on 16 November, IS claimed the decapitation of at least 18 Syrian soldiers. (CG)