Islamic State Video Shows Beheading and Killing of 30 Ethiopian Christians

The Ethiopian government condemned reports about the killing of 30 Christians from the country by the Islamic State (ISIS), announcing that its embassy in Egypt is investigating the released video to determine whether the victims were indeed Ethiopian. Ridwan Hussein, Ethiopia's communications minister, told AFP: "We strongly condemn such a crime, regardless of whether the victims were Ethiopian or not." The Islamic State released a video on Sunday, April 30, apparently showing the killing of 30 Ethiopian Christians who were captured in Libya by the group. In this 29-minute video, members of the Islamic State show two groups of captives introduced as "followers of the cross from the enemy church of Ethiopia." A masked man in black holding a handgun reads a statement in which Christians are told they must either convert to Islam, pay jizya, or be killed. The video further shows the beheading of 12 men on a beach by masked men, while at least 16 others are shot in the head in a desert area. Earlier images also show a number of Syrian Christians who were said to have been given the choice between converting to Islam and paying jizya, with the latter option chosen by them. Jizya is a tax that people of the Book, such as Jews and Christians, must pay to ensure their safety in Islamic societies. The Islamic State had previously released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya.