A DEFECTOR from ISIS has revealed why the terror group’s hostages always appear so calm just before their execution.
“Salehâ€, a former translator for ISIS, told Sky News that hostages are routinely subjected to mock executions and lulled into a false sense of security. Then, when their execution finally does arrive, they mistakenly believe it is just another mock-up.
Saleh revealed that in his conversations with “Jihadi John†— who he says is actually Mohammed Emwazi, the 26-year-old British executioner suspected of killing several foreign hostages — he was instructed to tell hostages: “No problem, only on 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.â€
These mock beheadings were performed so frequently they became normal, Saleh said, making hostages think they were actually not going to die.
The former translator also revealed that hostages were given Arabic names to make them feel as though they were among friends , who was addressed as “Abu Saadâ€, which Saleh said made Goto “relaxâ€.
“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 said in the interview.
“All the time he say to him ‘it’s a rehearsal, don’t [be] afraid’,†said Saleh.
“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’.â€
The information comes as speculation about why other hostages, such as journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and English aid workers David Haines, Peter Kassig and Alan Henning and Goto’s fellow countryman, Hauruna Yukawa, were all so calm when addressing their governments in ISIS propaganda videos.
Saleh also revealed that Emwazi is one of the most respected members of the terror group because of his willingness to kill foreigners.
“John [is] the big boss … only he talks orders — others do,†Saleh told Sky.
