A gruesome new video released by the barbaric Islamic group ISIS, which identifies itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, shows approximately 30 Ethiopians, who they identified as “followers of the cross,” being massacred in Libya.
The 29-minute video, entitled “Until It Came To Them—Clear Evidence,” begins with what is called a history of relations between Muslims and Christians, followed by footage of Islamists destroying churches, smashing gravesites and destroying religious icons.
A masked ISIS fighter brandishing a gun then appears and declares that Christians must either convert to Islam or pay a special tax, known as jizya, as outlined in Koran. For those who refuse, “we owe nothing except the edge of the sword,” he threatens.
“Muslim blood shed under the hands of your religions is not cheap,” the fighter states. “To the nation of the cross, we are now back again.”
Footage soon switches back and forth between two groups of Ethiopians, identified as “followers of the cross,” who are being lined up and marched to their death. The first group shows approximately 15 Ethiopian men being led by masked Islamists along a beach, and a second group of another 15 Ethiopian men being led in the desert.
The men, all dressed in jumpsuits—one group in orange and the other black—are forced to their knees while they await their death. The first group is beheaded with a long knife, and their heads are placed on top of their bodies. The second group is shot execution style in the head.
“You will not have safety even in your dreams, until you accept Islam,” the fighter, who resembles the identified “Jihadi John,” threatens. “Our battle is a battle between faith and blasphemy, between truth and falsehood.”
The footage is similar to another horrifying video released in February where 21 Egyptians were marched to their death and beheaded.
“All crusaders: safety for you will be only wishes, especially if you are fighting us all together,” the ISIS fighter declared. “The sea you have hidden Sheikh Osama Bin Laden’s body in, we swear to Allah we will mix it with your blood.”
The five-minute video was captioned “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church.”
Ethiopian spokesperson Redwan Hussein told TIME that if Sunday’s video is indeed authentic, the men who were captured and killed were most likely among the flood of migrants who are fleeing Africa for Europe in an attempt to escape Islamic violence. According to reports, two thirds of Ethiopians are Orthodox Copts.
“If this is confirmed, it will be a warning to people who wish to risk and travel to Europe though the dangerous route,” he stated.
As previously reported, thousands in the Middle East and Africa have been flocking to Italy for refuge, with Libya being a main location for transport. However, as a boat of 105 passengers was making its way to the country last week, 12 Christians were thrown overboard by Muslims who were also making the trip. Fifteen Muslims involved in the crime have been charged with “multiple aggravated murder motivated by religious hate.”
Caution: Graphic
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