Portraits of ISIS journalists who were victims of the attack.

Over the past few months, ISIS has repeatedly posted videos depicting the brutal executions of journalists, shocking the world. Many organizations around the world have called for the protection of journalists.

James Foley

On August 19, 2014, the Islamic State (Al-Qaeda) organization posted a video that shocked the world, showing the execution of American freelance journalist James Foley. The following day, US intelligence officials confirmed the authenticity of the video.

American freelance journalist James Foley.

The incident occurred just days after the US launched airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. ISIS claimed responsibility for executing Foley, stating it was in retaliation for US military intervention in Iraq.

Foley was kidnapped in May 2012 in Syria. The Global Post quoted a witness as saying that he was stopped and abducted by two armed men while traveling from Idlib province in northwestern Syria towards the border with Türkiye.

At the request of the Foley family, information about Foley's abduction was not revealed until January 2013. At the time of his abduction, no organization claimed responsibility. In May 2013, the American publication Global Post and his family believed he was being held by the Syrian authorities. An article published in May 2014 in Vanity Fair magazine refuted this theory and suggested he had been abducted by ISIS in Syria.

Before his arrest, Foley regularly reported from conflict zones. In 2011, he and two other journalists were held captive for 40 days in Libya by forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi.

On August 20, 2014, US President Barack Obama condemned the killing of Foley as an act of violence that shocked the world.

Steven Sotloff

Less than two weeks after Foley's execution, on September 2, 2014, ISIS released another video showing the execution of a freelance journalist with dual American and Israeli citizenship, Steven Sotloff. The very next day, President Obama confirmed the authenticity of the video.

Journalist Steven Sotloff.

ISIS also claimed responsibility for executing Sotloff as punishment for the US military intervention in Iraq.

Sotloff was kidnapped along with two others in August 2013 shortly after crossing the Turkish border into Syria. The two others were released a few days later, but Sotloff was held captive by ISIS. He is believed to have been held along with several other international journalists.

At the family's request, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) only publicized the case after ISIS threatened to kill Sotloff in a video showing Foley's execution. On August 27, 2014, Sotloff's mother, Shirley Sotloff, pleaded with ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to have mercy and release her son.

As with Foley, it is still unknown where Sotloff was killed by IS.

Kenji Goto

On February 1, 2015, ISIS released another video of the execution of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto after failing to achieve its negotiating goals with the Japanese government.

Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.

Shortly afterward, the Japanese government acknowledged the authenticity of the video and announced it would punish those responsible for the crime. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned it as a despicable act and vowed never to forgive terrorists.

Meanwhile, with IS threatening, Japan has begun an unwinnable war against IS and will face even more violent threats.

Previously, IS had executed another Japanese citizen after the Japanese government refused to pay a $200 million ransom.

Goto is known as a kind and honest man, a veteran freelance journalist who frequently works with Japanese filmmakers and television producers. He has written many articles about the tragic circumstances of children in many countries around the world.

Goto always maintained that he was not a war correspondent but simply recounting the stories of ordinary people.

According to Goto's wife, Rinko Jogo, he went to Syria in late 2014 to rescue a Japanese friend, Haruna Yukawa, 42, who was being held captive by ISIS. Yukawa had also been executed by ISIS a few days earlier.

Many other Iraqi journalists

According to the BBC, IS has also killed several other Iraqi journalists. In October 2014, two Iraqi journalists were killed by IS within just four days.

IS seized Mosul, Iraq in June 2014.

Mohanad al-Akidi, a reporter for the Sada news agency based in Mosul, northern Iraq, was captured and killed by IS forces in Ghazlani.

Akidi was kidnapped in July 2014 while on a business trip in Dohuk province.

Raad Mohamed al-Azzawi, a cameraman for the Sama Salah Aldeen television station, was executed by IS in the city of Samarra after being kidnapped a month earlier.

The organization Reporters Across Borders said they were horrified by the crimes of IS.

Lucie Morillon, the organization's director, said: "The Islamic State is pursuing a policy of indiscriminate violence that shows no mercy toward journalists and does not hesitate to abduct, torture, and kill them."

She added: "Media professionals need the support and protection of local authorities more than ever."

According to Infonet