Japanese journalist beheaded by Islamic State was a Christian
By Mark Ellis and Michael Ashcraft, Special to ASSIST News Service
ANS (February 2, 2015) -- Japanese
journalist Kenji Goto, beheaded by Islamic State in a newly released
gruesome video, also happened to be a devout Christian.
A
reporter seasoned in war zones, Goto traveled to Syria hoping that
Japan’s pacifist stance would grant him relative safety, unlike other
journalists from nations leading airstrikes against Islamic State.
He
failed to take into account this new brand of terrorists is breaking
all previous norms, with no apparent limits to their depravity.
“You,
like your foolish allies in the Satanic coalition, have yet to
understand that we, by Allah’s grace, are an Islamic caliphate with
authority and power, an entire army thirsty for you blood,” a masked
militant says in the video while holding a knife to Goto’s neck.
In
his reporting, Goto focused on the human cost and suffering of war, not
on who was winning or losing. An Associated Press report quoted his
former pastor, Hiroshi Tamura, who cited his Christian faith for
inspiring his reporting.
Goto
accepted Jesus in 1997, which was somewhat rare considering only two
percent of the population of Japan is Christian. Christ’s call to reach
the poor and broken in sprit seemed to motivate his journalism.
“I
have seen horrible places and have risked my life,” he told
ChristianToday.com. “I know that somehow God will always save me.”
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