Three French fighters in the Islamic State (IS) urged Muslims among their fellow countrymen to travel to Iraq or Syria to join the group, in a recently released video taped message titled “What Are You Waiting For?
In footage that was posted on a social media website, the men are seen burning their passports and then sitting together as they give speeches. The three speakers were identified on the video as Abu Osama al-Faranci, Abu Maryam al-Faranci, and Abu Salman al-Faranci.
Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage.
“What are you waiting for?” a man identified as Abu Osama Al Faranchi asks in French.
Speaking with a rifle strapped to his chest he continues, “why do you not perform Hijra? How do you accept to work in the land of Kufr when Allah has opened for you to perform the best of deeds. Jihad in the path of Allah.”
Later in the video, a second man identified as Abu Maryam al-Faranci says his message is to “all the enemies of Islam and specifically France.”
“The Mujahideen around the world will not hesitate, whenever there is a possibility, to cut your heads,” he says. “As long as you keep bombing you will not find peace. You will even fear traveling to the market.”
The 7 minute, 10 second video, in French with English-subtitled video, was produced by the group’s al-Hayat Media Center, and was distributed on Twitter and jihadi forums on November 19, 2014.
Reuters wires