ISIS Video Shows Execution Of Two Members Of Anti-ISIS Media Collective 'Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently'

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On July 5, 2015, the information office for the Islamic State (ISIS) in Al-Raqqa Province, Syria, published a seven-minute video titled "They Are The Enemy So Beware Of Them" (a reference to Koran 63:4) on YouTube and Archive.org.

The video, which was also tweeted by @estaedonafeer, depicts the investigation, confession, and execution of two 21-year-old men – Bashar Abd Al-'Athim Al-Sa'd and Fasal Husain Habib – from Al-Raqqa. Both worked for the Raqqa-based anti-ISIS media collective Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, which exposes ISIS atrocities via Facebook and Twitter.

At the start of the video, the two men testify that they were recruited to gather information by a man named Hamuda Musa. Bashar says that he printed informational materials, while Faisal says that he carried out daily photographing missions, including recording video footage throughout the city. For this, he was supplied with a camera and a smartwatch that allows secret video recording. During Faisal's testimony, the video shows a reenactment of a man riding a motorcycle and using a smartwatch to secretly record video. Faisal was asked to record ISIS members throughout Al-Raqqa, as well as their headquarters and command centers. In addition, he was asked to travel to Dei Al-Zor and document ISIS's production of oil from wells they control, and their using it to fuel their cars and trucks. Faisal adds that the footage he took was encrypted on his personal computer and delivered to Hamuda Musa, who would pick it up once a month. Faisal was paid $400 a month for his work.

The investigator in the video asks the two if they have anything to say to information activists "who are fighting their religion and the Islamic State." Faisal replies that this activity assists the infidels and adds: "Do not let people fool you for money." Then, addressing information activists, Bashar says: "You are only harming yourselves, since [you cannot escape] the Day of Judgment."

Reenactment of man using smart watch to secretly record video, superimposed over testimony of one of the men.

At the end of the video, the two are seen tied to a tree at night. A masked ISIS member approaches them and shoots them at close range with a pistol. Later on, the video shows a blurry image of a man with an orange jumpsuit who says that his name is Muhammad Al-Musa.[1] The video abruptly ends, indicating that the segment is a preview for an upcoming video showing his execution.

It should be mentioned that on June 23, the "Al-Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently" media group issued an announcement and eulogy following Muhammad Al-Musa's execution by ISIS.[2]

Muhammad Al-Musa appears at the end of the video as a preview for an upcoming video