http://gawker.com/isis-video-purportedly-shows-mass-execution-of-21-egypt-1685964530According to Reuters, ISIS released another grisly beheading video on Sunday, this one purportedly showing the execution of 21 Coptic Christians kidnapped in Libya.
Libyan parliament confirmed the deaths yesterday, when photos of the execution were published by an ISIS-affiliated magazine.
The Guardian reports the Egyptian guest workers were abducted from the Libyan city of Sirte during two raids in December and January, apparently "in revenge for" two women allegedly imprisoned by Coptics for converting to Islam.
Earlier this week, Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb told the hostages' families that the government would "spare no efforts to protect its sons and defend their rights," Daily News Egypt reports.
WH Statement On ISIS Beheading Of 21 Egyptians Fails To Note Men’s Christianity, That They Were Killed For It, Or The Threat To Christians GenerallyThe White House released a statement yesterday to condemn the beheadings of the 21-Egyptian Coptic Christians by ISIS in Libya but refused to refer to the victims as Coptic Christians or even just Christians. The statement, released by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, only referred to them as ‘Egyptian citizens’.
Here’s the full statement:
Statement by the Press Secretary on the Murder of Egyptian Citizens
The United States condemns the despicable and cowardly murder of twenty-one Egyptian citizens in Libya by ISIL-affiliated terrorists. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and our support to the Egyptian government and people as they grieve for their fellow citizens. ISIL’s barbarity knows no bounds. It is unconstrained by faith, sect, or ethnicity. This wanton killing of innocents is just the most recent of the many vicious acts perpetrated by ISIL-affiliated terrorists against the people of the region, including the murders of dozens of Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai, which only further galvanizes the international community to unite against ISIL.
This heinous act once again underscores the urgent need for a political resolution to the conflict in Libya, the continuation of which only benefits terrorist groups, including ISIL. We call on all Libyans to strongly reject this and all acts of terrorism and to unite in the face of this shared and growing threat. We continue to strongly support the efforts of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bernardino Leon to facilitate formation of a national unity government and help foster a political solution in Libya.
http://therightscoop.com/white-house-refuses-to-call-21-beheading-victims-christians-in-statement-against-isis-attack/