A new video released today reportedly shows an ISIS member threatening to murder two Japanese men unless the extremist group is paid $200 million by the Japanese government.
According to CNN, the two hostages have been identified as Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto Jogo. The video shows a masked man telling the government that it has 72 hours to pay the $200 million, or Yukawa and Jogo will be beheaded. CNN adds that the ransom is a result of Japan's alliance with ISIS opponents:
A masked man in the latest video gives the Japanese government a choice to pay $200 million -- the same amount of money Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently pledged for those contending with ISIS -- to free the Japanese men. That deal holds for 72 hours, which would seem to mean sometime Friday since the video appeared on social media Tuesday.
Furthermore, CNN reports that the masked man explained that Japan had "willingly volunteered to take part in [the] crusade" against ISIS, despite its distance. In addition, CNN noted that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be standing his ground on the matter:
The pledge aid is very important to the refugees in need and has nothing to do with the Islamic communities or the radical militants, the Prime Minister said. ... We will contribute to the (region's) peace and stability, in cooperation with the global community.
As to the ISIS threat against two of his nation's citizens, Abe called it unacceptable.
I feel angry about it, he said. I strongly urge them to immediately release the hostages without harming them.
[via CNN]
