IS victim’s brother – ‘he tried to be a better man’
The brother of the British man who was murdered by Islamic state militants says his life was about love, not hatred.
Speaking after the extremist group released a video showing his brother David’s killing on Saturday night, Mike Haines paid tribute to his sibling, saying he tried to make himself a better man and to help those who were in need.
“My first reaction could be one of hatred but my brother’s life wasn’t about hatred, it was about love for all men,” he said.
In a prepared statement, he said that radicalisation was the “biggest threat” to global security and said that those responsible for his brother’s murder should face the consequences of their actions.
‘Radicalisation’
He said: “Our brother, son, father, nephew, husband and friend was brutally and cold-bloodedly murdered by ISIL (Islamic State) after being held hostage since March 2013.
“We agree with the government in that ISIL are extremely dangerous, and pose a threat to every nation, every religion, every politics and every person.
“Radicalisation remains the biggest threat to the wholesale safety of every person in the world. Increasingly we are seeing more and more radicalisation in every walk of life.
David Haines, 44, (above) was murdered by Islamic State militants
“It is not a race, religion or political issue, it is a human issue and it is in our everyday lives.
“I have become aware of a number of verses in the Koran that I feel are particularly apt at this time, if I may: ‘The sense good and evil cannot be equal. Repel the evil with something that is better.”‘
‘Terror’
Earlier on Sunday, a second British hostage being held by Islamic State was named as Alan Henning.
British Muslim leaders also condemned the killing and said Islamic State did not represent their faith.
Echoing their sentiments, Mr Haines added: “The Muslim faith is not to blame for ISIL, nor is it the fault of people of Middle Eastern descent.
“The attraction of complete control and the use of terror as an implement of operational control has a widespread appeal to many disenfranchised throughout society, as you can see by the amount of foreign nationals, not just British, fighting for ISIL.
“We need as a society to look at how we deal with this problem. My family and I agree with the government that we need those travelling to fight for ISIL and on their return to the UK face the consequences of their actions.”
Reacting to the release of the video, the Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to take whatever steps were necessary to defeat Islamic State.