http://ekurd.net/islamic-state-parades-17-kurdish-fighters-in-cages-promise-to-burn-alive-like-jordanian-pilot-2015-02-14Islamic State parades 17 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in cages, promise to burn alive like Jordanian pilot
Posted on February 14, 2015 b
KIRKUK,— Islam state (IS) group militants have released disturbing video of 17 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters being paraded in cages through north-eastern Iraqi city Kirkuk with the expressed claim that they are now set to be burned alive.
Heads bowed in terror the orange-clad Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are paraded through streets filled with jeering militants in the latest horrifying video release from Islamic State group IS.
In a grim echo of the terrible fate which befell Jordanian pilot Lieutenant Muath al-Kaseasbeh the captives, reportedly Peshmerga fighters, are dressed in orange jumpsuits and shackled in cages.
Just as Lt. al-Kaseasbeh was burned alive on camera, IS are planning to do the same with their latest prisoners, according to posts on social media.
The grim procession apparently took place through Kirkuk in northwest Iraq, an oil rich Kurdish stronghold where IS now has a presence after mounting repeated attacks in recent weeks.
The parade, reportedly through the Hawija district in the southwest of Kirkuk, could be seen as revenge for horrific reports of Kurdish forces dragging the bodies of IS fighters through the streets of the city in the Kurdistan region of Iraq earlier this month.
In the nearly four minute long video 17 of the Iraqi Kurdistan military forces are driven one by one on the backs of white pick-up trucks with IS flag-waving militants toting AK-47s accompanying each prisoner.
At the end of the clip the long line of cages can be seen retreating into the sunset over the heads of massed crowds of militants.
Dozens of families of Kurdish Peshmerga forces kidnapped by Islamic State group IS in Kirkuk protested on Saturday, demanding to expedite to free them. media reported that the families of the kidnapped went out in demonstration in al-Falaq neighborhood in Kirkuk carrying pictures of their loved ones” and that the protesters demanded officials in Peshmerga forces to expedite the liberalization of their loved ones before the IS militants kill them.
“Almost 70 relatives of the Peshmarga hostages demonstrated, and it is believed they will issue a statement urging the Kirkuk administration to take immediate action to follow up on the fate of the captives,” said a Rudaw reporter in Kirkuk.
It is believed the relatives and loved ones of the Peshmerga allegedly shown in the video will also call upon the political council of Arabs in Kirkuk to mediate between the families of the captives and IS. The footage, which was released by IS on Friday, has not been officially confirmed.
Mohammad Khalil Jabouri, a member of the Kirkuk provincial council, said an extraordinary session of the provincial council must be held.
“We have no option but to start negotiations with IS to exchange captives. We have their captives and they have ours. Negotiation is they only moral way to deal with this,“ Jabouri said.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan Region says there is no evidence to confirm whether a number of Peshmerga hostages have been executed.
Spokesperson and Secretary General of the Peshmerga Ministry Jabbar Yawar said, “We have no evidence to confirm whether the Peshmerga hostages have been executed or not.” Basnews reports
Peshmerga in IS cage
A terrified Kurdish Peshmerga prisoner looks out from his cage at a mob of jeering Islamic State militants in the horrific scene. Photo: IS video
Lt. al-Kaseasbeh was filmed being burned to death by Islamic State extremists in a nightmarish 22-minute film which was expertly edited before being posted online.
Titled ‘Healing the Believers’ Chests’, it showed the captured airman locked in a cage before a trail of petrol leading up to its bars is set alight.
It is thought he was immolated while heavily sedated before debris, including broken masonry, is poured over the cage, which is then flattened by a bulldozer.
Officials believe Kasasbeh had been killed almost one month earlier, despite IS attempting to carry out a prisoner exchange in return for the captured pilot.
After the footage was released, Jordanian officials executed two Iraqi militants connected with IS.
They included Sajida al-Rishawi, the female would-be suicide bomber whose freedom IS had originally demanded in exchange for releasing Kasasbeh.