Lara Prendergast Lara Prendergast

The John Cantlie video shows Islamic State have taken a leaf out of Vice’s book

Islamic State (IS) have just released a new video that features the journalist John Cantlie. Until now, his whereabouts in Syria were unknown, but it now looks as if he has been captured by IS.

This time, the video takes a different format. There is (thankfully) no beheading, but it’s sinister in different ways. Cantlie, believed to be 43, says he will broadcast a series of videos that will reveal the ‘manipulated truths’ employed by the Western media. 

The video is entitled ‘Lend me your ears’. In it, Cantlie says: 

‘Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking: “He’s only doing this because he’s a prisoner, he’s got a gun at his head and he’s being forced to do this,” right? ‘Well, it’s true. I am a prisoner, that I cannot deny. But seeing as I’ve been abandoned by my government and my fate now lies in the hands of the Islamic State I have nothing to lose.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Lara Prendergast
Written by
Lara Prendergast
Lara Prendergast is executive editor of The Spectator. She hosts two Spectator podcasts, The Edition and Table Talk, and edits The Spectator’s food and drink coverage.

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in