The Security Council Condemns the Murder of Japanese Journalist

The United Nations Security Council, in its session on Sunday, February 1, condemned the "barbaric and cowardly" murder of Kenji Goto, a Japanese journalist, whose beheading was recently showcased in a video released by the Islamic State (ISIS). All 15 members of the Security Council stated in a statement that "this crime once again highlights the increasing dangers that journalists and others face daily in Syria." According to AFP, the council expressed regret over Kenji Goto's murder, describing the act as "barbaric and cowardly" and "strongly condemned" it. The Islamic State group released a video on January 31 showing the beheading of the Japanese journalist. A week earlier, the group had also claimed to have beheaded another Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa. Kenji Goto's murder has elicited reactions in Japan and other countries. In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that the country is "very angry about these horrific and wicked terrorist acts and will never forgive ISIS terrorists." Mr. Abe emphasized that Tokyo will enhance its cooperation with the international community to ensure that "terrorists face justice for their crimes." Barack Obama, the President of the United States, called the extremists' actions "heinous" and stated that America will continue its efforts to combat them. Ban Ki-moon and David Cameron, the UN Secretary-General and the UK Prime Minister, were among other senior officials who condemned the murder of the Japanese journalist.