【イスラム国・邦人人質事件】ジャーナリスト・常岡浩介氏の緊急会見を生中継

【イスラム国・邦人人質事件】ジャーナリスト・常岡浩介氏の緊急会見を生中継

At a separate news conference at the FCCJ later in the day, Muslim convert Kosuke Tsuneoka, a freelance journalist with years of experience in the Islamic world, said the two men would almost certainly be killed. He described their situation as “hopeless,” saying the Islamic State group is notorious for following through on publicized death threats.

Last year, Tokyo police raided Tsuneoka’s home and questioned him over his possible links with the group. On Thursday he said his contacts in the region were of great value, declaring that whatever chances the hostages have depend on him and Nakata.

“If there is any chance (the pair) will come through the crisis alive, direct dialogue with the Islamic State is the only way to go,” Tsuneoka said. “We have a channel of communication with (the group). But at the moment, the Japanese government doesn’t seem inclined to ask for our help. That’s the biggest problem.”

Tsuneoka, a Muslim for the past 15 years, was captured by an armed group while reporting in Afghanistan in 2010. Last fall, police interrogated him on suspicion he had been involved in helping a Hokkaido University student prepare to join Islamic State militants in Syria.