Social media users urged to shun beheading video
Please tweet this photo of James Foley and not any of him in the hands of his gutless murderers. #RIPJamesFoley pic.twitter.com/rM0PmH5dRj
— AngelaSpangela (@TwitchingWitch) August 20, 2014
A campaign has been launched on Twitter urging people not to share the video purporting to show the murder of James Foley, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012.
Celebrities including actress Mia Farrow were among those who urged their followers to shun the horrific beheading footage, which the Islamic State claimed showed the death of the 40-year-old American.
Thousands of ordinary users from around the world have also backed the plan to deny IS publicity in horror at what they have done, using the hashtag #ISISmediablackout.
Do not share beheading video or stills of James Foley's death; it's what IS wants you to do. And frankly, not very nice.
— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) August 19, 2014
Twitter’s chief executive Dick Costolo said the firm was taking action against accounts which spread the video.
He wrote: “We have been and are actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery. Thank you.”
Instead of the graphic video, large numbers of people were sharing pictures of Foley smiling at work, encouraging people to disseminate them in his memory instead.
Rosemary’s Baby star Farrow tweeted: “Blackout on group that murdered James Foley. Don’t share video. Give them nothing. #RespectJamesFoley.”
Blackout on group that murdered James Foley. Don't share video. Give them nothing. #RespectJamesFoley
— Mia Farrow 🏳️🌈 🌻🇺🇸💙 (@MiaFarrow) August 20, 2014
Meanwhile British Prime Minister David Cameron has cut his holidays short after the release of the footage, in which the masked jihadi who carries out the execution speaks with a British accent.
US and British intelligence are attempting to verify the recording and identify the militant.
In a statement James Foley's parents said they had never been prouder of their son - and that he gave his life trying to expose the suffering of the Syrian people.
