An ISIS Defector Says Foreign Hostages Were Subjected To "Mock Executions" Before Being Killed

He also claims to have witnessed Mohammed Emwazi, aka "Jihadi John", killing the Japanese hostage Kenji Goto.

A man claiming to be an ISIS defector has told Sky News that militants subjected foreign captives to "mock executions" in order to make them appear more comfortable in propaganda videos.

In the video, "Saleh" describes how these fake "rehearsals" would take place:

He [the ISIS commander] would say to me 'Say to them, no problem, only video, we don't kill you, we want from your government [to] stop attacking Syria. We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors.'

So they don't worry. Always I say to them 'Don't worry, doesn't matter, nothing dangerous for you.' But at the end I was sure [they would die].

Maybe they [the captors] raise their voice, but without hitting. All the time he say to him: 'It's a rehearsal, don't [be] afraid.'

I will explain. He want, when he will kill you really… [it] don't enter his [hostage's] head. Exactly, of course, you [hostages] should say this message: 'I'm living in ISIS and will stay and continue.'

The former translator, who is currently in Turkey, also said he had witnessed hostage killings by "Jihadi John", recently named as the British militant Mohammed Emwazi.

When he killed Kenji Goto I live showed this [saw this] but not near, from a little [distance].

After he was killed him, three or four person come and take over the body and put in a car. After that, John went on a different road.

The big boss was there with them. Turkish man say 'Put this camera there, change place there' but John [was] the big boss. All time, all time say to all 'Fastly, fastly, fastly, we should finish'. So respect him. Only he talks orders – others do.

He said hostages were given Arabic names, supposedly to make them more comfortable around ISIS fighters.

ISIS gave the hostages an idea: 'You should be Muslim and come with us'. When I went to the rehearsal he said to [Kenji] Goto 'Abu Saad'. Maybe I was thinking to myself: 'Maybe they try [find] this name so hard, Kenji Goto.'

Maybe they could not say [Kenji Goto] so [they say] Abu Saad. But when I noticed Goto, when they said Abu Saad to Goto, direct [he] relax.

Saleh also said Emwazi was the only foreign fighter that was allowed to execute hostages.

Maybe because he use the knife. I cannot understand why he is so strong. One man can kill and all people will respect. A Syrian man anyone [in ISIS] can kill. But strangers [foreigners], only John.

You can watch the full interview with "Saleh" below:

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com / Via Sky News
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