Press Statement

Khaled Khoja

President of the Syrian Coalition

January 24, 2015

Following the release of a video allegedly showing Japanese hostage Kenji Goto announcing, under duress, the execution by ISIS of his fellow hostage Haruna Yukawa, President of the Syrian Coalition said:

"The threat that the evil ISIS made to murder Japanese hostages Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa four days ago did not make the news of the beheading of Mr. Yukawa today any less painful. If verified, this is a heinous murder. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Haruna Yukawa, as I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Kenji Goto.

Once again, ISIS has shown there are no limits to its depravity. However, as Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has made it clear, we will not give in to terrorists. ISIS will be defeated and its thugs brought to justice."