The death of Steven Sotloff, the recent American journalist who was shown being beheaded in a video released Tuesday by Islamic militant terrorist group ISIS, has left a family in mourning and the whole world stunned, but not silent.
The grieving family made their first public comment on Wednesday, remembering 31-year-old Sotloff for his thoughtfulness, enjoyment of the simple things, and his “gentle soul.” He was also fascinated by the Middle East.
The statement was delivered on the same day U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that the videotaped execution was indeed authentic.
A friend of Sotloff’s, Middle East scholar Barak Barfi, also spoke on behalf of the family. In a prepared statement he made on outside of their home of Sept. 3rd, Barfi reminisced on all of the great qualities of Sotloff and good times he had with the slain journalist.
“He was no war junkie…he merely wanted to give voice to those who had none,” Barfi shared.
He then switched to Arabic to directly address ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, challenging him to debate Islamic religious teachings.
“I have a message for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,” said Barfi boldly. “Woe to you! You said the month of Ramadan is the month of mercy. Where is your mercy?”
An Arabic scholar and research fellow at the New America Foundation think tank in Washington, Barfi went on to quote passages from the Qur’an and criticize Baghdadi for violating Islam beliefs and principles.
“God does not love the aggressor,” he said, using the phrase “wayluk,” which in Arabic roughly translates to committing a great sin.
“I am ready to debate you with kind preachings. I have no sword in my hand. I am ready for your answer.”
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was not as relenting, and declared the fight against ISIS would continue following the video-taped beheading of Sothoff and fellow American journalist James Foley less than two weeks before.
“They should know we will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice,” Biden spoke angrily. “Because hell is where they will reside. Hell is where they will reside.”
Sotloff was kidnapped by ISIS members last August in Syria after driving across the war-torn border from Turkey. Originally from Miami, he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida and regularly wrote for Time Magazine, Foreign Policy and the World Affairs Journal.
“Like all of us, he was a mere man who tried to find good concealed in a world of darkness,” Barfi remembered. “If it did not exist, he tried to create it.”
He finished by telling reporters in English: “Today, we grieve. This week, we mourn. But we will emerge from this ordeal… We will not allow our enemies to hold us hostage with the sole weapons they possess—fear.”
(With reports from Inquirer, CNN, and Yahoo News.)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ September 5-11, 2014 Sec. A pg.4)
