A threat to journalists is a threat to freedom

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron is set to chair a meeting of the government's emergency response committee COBRA in the aftermath of the brutal murder of another journalist.

A video purporting to show the beheading of 31-year-old American journalist Stephen Sotloff has created anger across the world. It follows the video released last month of the killing of fellow journalist James Foley.

Mr Cameron released a statement following the release of the video:  “I’ve just seen the news. It’s an absolutely disgusting and despicable act and I will be making a statement later.”

At the end of the video the masked terrorist warned that a British journalist would be next unless the United Kingdom stays out of the battle in Iraq and Syria against the group, which calls itself the Islamic State.

In the video entitled "A second message to America" the man, believed to be the murderer of Mr Foley, threatens to continue killing unless the United States ceases airstrikes against IS terrorists in Iraq.

"I'm back, Obama, and I'm back because of your arrogant foreign policy toward the Islamic State ... despite our serious warnings," the fighter says. "So just as your missiles continue to strike our people, our knife will continue to strike the necks of your people."

The video highlights the risks to foreign correspondents posed by terrorist groups. By utilising social media outlets the group has been able to maximise the impact of the killings has had, and subsequently made them seem more attractive to terrorist organisations.

Michelle Stanistreet, National Union of Journalists general secretary, released a statement in a August in which she warned of the dangers faced by journalists around the world.

"This summer's events in the Middle East, Ukraine and Africa have produced a dangerous and lethal climate for foreign correspondents and journalists in the field reporting on bloody conflicts and for the local journalists recording events in such dangerous territory. It is deeply alarming to see that journalists are becoming direct targets and their lives are being put at risk...

"It is a simple fact that freedom of the press and free expression are not possible where journalists face extreme violence for doing their job."

Playing on public opinion and feelings of horror allows the criminal gangs spreading bloodshed to feel that they are able to prevent governments from intervening to prevent further substantial losses of life.

It is the bravery of journalists such as Mr Sotloff and Foley who refuse to be cowed which undermines their insidious aims. Through the threat of death many more are still operating, reporting the news and bringing the publics attention to the very acts which the killers want to be allowed to continue. 

Hamza found guilty in New York

TERROR supporter and hate preacher Abu Hamza has been found guilty by a court in New York today.

The jury of eight men and four women were unanimous in its verdict of guilty on 11 terror charges, despite Hamza’s last ditch defence of claiming that he was aiding British Security Services, and that he should be seen in the same light as Nelson Mandela.

While he has yet to be sentenced the verdict marks a key moment in the on-going fight against the Islamic extremism. Hamza was best known in the United Kingdom for his hate filled rants as he tried to radicalise British Muslims by promising them glory in war which he had constructed in his own mind.

The hook handed terrorist supporter was condemned by people of all faiths, including a large proportion of the British Islamic community, for his praise of the 9/11 hijackers on the anniversary of the devastating attack, which left 2,977 innocent men women and children dead as planes hit the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon.

As Manhattan United States Attorney Preet Bharara told reporters: "The defendant stands convicted, not for what he said, but for what he did. Abu Hamza was not just a preacher of faith, but a trainer of terrorists," adding, "Once again our civilian system of justice has proven itself up to the task of trying an accused terrorist and arriving at a fair and just and swift result."

Perhaps most crucially Mr Bharara stressed that it was a ‘civilian trial’. This was not a campaign against a self proclaimed fighter; it was a carefully constructed court case against a man accused of providing aid to terror groups.

The stage was set in the opening comments made by Assistant US Attorney Edward Kim at the start of the prosecution’s case when he asserted that Hamza had turned the London Finsbury Park Mosque into “the base of operations for the global export of violence and terror.”

“Abu Hamza was not just a preacher of religion,” stated Mr Kim, adding. “He was a trainer of terrorists and he used the cover of religion so he could hide in plain sight in London.”

Despite the best efforts of his defence council Joshua Dratel to portray him as a misunderstood and courageous man, fighting to find a safe ground for Muslims around the world the jury has spoken. Twelve men and women have found him guilty in a court of law, now it is down to the judges to decide his fate. What seems certain, however, is that he will be treated as a standard criminal rather than the hero he has attempted to portray himself as being.