INDIANAPOLIS – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement regarding the murder of James Foley, an American journalist killed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Syria:
“As the details of this tragedy unfold, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of James Foley. If the civilized world had yet to fully recognize the barbaric nature of ISIL, this incident should open the eyes of the entire international community. There must be worldwide outrage at ISIL’s actions and how innocent civilians are being attacked, tortured and murdered by this so-called caliphate.
“ISIL’s actions are a gross perversion of the Islamic faith, and it is time for the millions of Muslims who believe and adhere to the Quran and value human life to respond. Political, religious and other leaders must speak up publicly in opposition to ISIL. They must take a stand and show that they will not tolerate this blatant distortion of their beliefs.
“It also is time for the United States, Europe and other nations to recognize that the civilized world is dealing with nothing short of barbarism that cannot be resolved through inaction or diplomacy.
