John Cantlie, Islamic State Hostage Journalist, Says New Video Is 'Last In Series'

British Islamic State Hostage John Cantlie Says Video Is 'Last In Series'

British photojournalist John Cantlie has appeared in a new Islamic State propaganda film, in which he says it is the "last film in this series".

The documentary-style production is titled "From Inside Halab", the ancient name for the Syrian city of Aleppo, with Cantlie interviewing a French fighter who praises the Paris attacks by Islamist gunmen in early January.

The video was almost certainly made in early January - Cantlie refers to David Cameron's Christmas speech and the French jihadists says he heard about the attacks on the headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris "a few days ago".

Many online noticed how Cantlie's voice appeared to shake slightly as he did his piece to camera, and he was noticeably more nervous than in other videos.

Freelance British photojournalist John Cantlie, before his capture

Cantlie has been held captive for more than two years by IS militants and has featured in a range of videos, including a series titled "Lend Me Your Ears". He has also featured in two previous "Inside..." videos titled "Inside Ayn al Islam", which is also known as Kobane, Syria, and "Inside Mosul", the Iraqi city.

In the latest video, Cantlie wanders around various locations in Aleppo, including standing in a bombed-out building he says has been "smashed to rubble" by bombings by both the Syrian Army and US air forces.

Cantlie then reports on education being received by young boys under Islamic State. He said: "One of the common accusations of the west is that under Islamic State education will suffer, religious studies and changes to the curriculum don't quite fit their image of progressive schooling. But here in Halab, these young men here are learning Koran recital and languages and with any luck they will form the mujahideen for the next generation in this region."

After spotting a drone flying above the city, the film cuts to the apparent aftermath of an airstrike, and Cantlie explains that the "Islamic State fire brigade" are on the scene. Cantlie, who is in his 40s, is then seen sitting in a Sharia law court, explaining how it functions.

Video grab of John Cantlie, which Islamic State (IS) have released

"Unlike the laws of democratic countries which change to fit every circumstance or to fit every different week, the rules of Sharia are remarkably simple," he says. "For example, if you are convicted of robbery with the correct number of witnesses and such forth, you have your hand cut off. Sounds harsh but you're not going to commit the same crime again and it will dissuade others from doing the same."

Cantlie later interviews a French IS member about the attacks last month at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris. Speaking in French, the man says: "The three attacks only made us happy."

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