Killing of captives by the Islamic State

Soldiers and civilians (such as captives and "criminals") have been executed by the Islamic State (IS) by beheading, immolation, shooting, and other means. IS has released a number of propaganda/publicity videos of beheadings or shootings of captives. Houtat Sulūk is reported to be a mass grave.

List of notable Islamic State executions Victim(s)Sex(s)Nationality(s) of victim(s)Date of execution(approx.)Place of execution(approx.)Method(s)Reason(s)Sergei GorbunovMRussianApril 2014Raqqa, SyriaShootingFailure to pay RansomAl-Moutaz Bellah IbrahimMSyrianMay 4, 2014Raqqa, SyriaShootingParticipating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”39 Indian migrant workersMIndianMosul, IraqUnknown execution method, most likely shootingFailure to pay Ransom1,095–1,700 Iraqi soldiersMIraqiTikrit, IraqShootingSectarian violence against Shi’ite Muslims in IraqHawas MallahMSyrianJune 14, 2014Palmyra, SyriaThrown off a roof and shootingHomosexualityMohammed SalamehMSyrianJune 14, 2014Palmyra, SyriaThrown off a roof and stoningHomosexuality200 Syrian soldiersMSyrianJuly 16–26, 2014Palmyra, SyriaShootingRevenge against the Syrian regimeJames Wright FoleyMAmericanRaqqa, SyriaBeheadingRetaliation for the American airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq250 Syrian soldiersMSyrianAugust 27–28, 2014Tabqa, SyriaShootingRevenge against the Syrian regimeSgt. Ali al-SayyedMLebaneseArsal, LebanonBeheadingTo send a message to LebanonSteven Joel SotloffMIsraeli-AmericanBadiya, SyriaBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom and continued American airstrikes against the Islamic StateSgt. Abbas MedlejMLebaneseArsal, LebanonBeheading and shootingAttempting to escape from Islamic State captorsDavid Cawthorne HainesMBritishBadiya, SyriaBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom and British airstrikes against the Islamic StateMohammad HamiehMLebaneseSeptember 19, 2014Arsal, LebanonShootingTo send a message to LebanonSamira Saleh Ali al-NaimiFIraqiMosul, IraqShootingCriticizing the destruction of mosques and ancient artifacts, as well as being an “apostate”Hervé GourdelMFrenchTikjda, AlgeriaBeheadingRetaliation for French airstrikes against the Islamic StateAlan HenningMBritishBadiya, SyriaBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom and the continued British airstrikes against the Islamic StateSiraj GhatishMLibyanNovember 11, 2014Derna, LibyaBeheadingTo send a message to LibyaMohamed BattuMLibyanNovember 11, 2014Derna, LibyaBeheadingTo send a message to LibyaMohamed al-MesmariMLibyanNovember 11, 2014Derna, LibyaBeheadingTo send a message to LibyaAhmed Muftah el-NazihiMLibyanNovember 13, 2014Derna, LibyaBeheadingTo send a message to LibyaMaj. Peter Edward Abdul-Rahman KassigMAmericanDabiq, SyriaBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom and the beginning of American airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria1st LT. Muath Safi Yousef al-KasasbehMJordanianRaqqa, SyriaImmolationFailure to pay Ransom and in retaliation for Jordanian involvement in “Crusader” airstrikes against the Islamic State in SyriaDzhambulat Yesenjenovich MamaevMKazakhJanuary 15, 2015Rif Dimashq, SyriaShootingAlleged spying for the Federal Security ServiceSergey Nikolayevich AshimovMRussianJanuary 15, 2015Rif Dimashq, SyriaShootingAlleged spying for the Federal Security ServiceHaruna YukawaMJapaneseDeir ez-Zor, SyriaBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom and to send a message to JapanOfc. Hujam SurchiMKurdishJanuary 28, 2015Mosul, IraqBeheadingTo send a message to the Peshmerga and Masoud BarzaniKenji GotoMJapaneseRaqqa, SyriaBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom and to send another message to JapanKayla Jean MuellerFAmericanRaqqa, SyriaUnknown execution method, Islamic State claimed that she had been killed in a Jordanian airstrike (proven wrong)Failure to pay Ransom1 Ghanaian and 20 Coptic ChristiansMCoptic Egyptian and GhanaianTripolitania, LibyaBeheadingTo send a message to the Christians and “Crusaders”, also to avenge Camelia Shehata ZakherMuhammad Said Ismail MusallamMPalestinianMarch 11, 2015Raqqa, SyriaShootingAlleged spying for MossadMahmoud KhalafMIraqiJune 17, 2015Diyala, IraqCrucifixion, dismemberment and shootingSpying for the PeshmergaBashir Abduladhim al-SaadoMSyrianJuly 6, 2015Raqqa, SyriaShootingAllegedly participating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”Faisal Hussain al-HabibMSyrianJuly 6, 2015Raqqa, SyriaShootingAllegedly participating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”Tomislav SalopekMCroatianSinai, EgyptBeheadingRetaliation for Croatian military intervention in the war against the Islamic State alongside NATOMohamed al-Mousa al-JasimMSyrianRaqqa, SyriaShootingParticipating in the activist group “Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently”Khaled Mohamad al-AsaadMSyrianPalmyra, SyriaBeheadingProtecting “idols” and being an “apostate”Shamil Bagauddinovich IbakovMDagestani RussianSeptember 15, 2015Buynaksky, RussiaShootingWitness to the prosecution of an Islamic State memberAshur Piro AbrahamMAssyrianSeptember 23, 2015Al-Hasakah, SyriaShootingTo send a message to Syria and ChristiansBasam Essa MichaelMAssyrianSeptember 23, 2015Al-Hasakah, SyriaShootingTo send a message to Syria and ChristiansDr. Abdulmasih EnwiyaMAssyrianSeptember 23, 2015Al-Hasakah, SyriaShootingTo send a message to Syria and ChristiansMigitin Amirbekovich JakatovMDagestani RussianSeptember 30, 2015Buynaksky, RussiaShootingBeing the mayor of KaramakhiSaed al-MadaniMLibyanOctober 15, 2015Sirte, LibyaBeheadingAllegedly practicing sorceryAdil Ali HafithMLibyanOctober 15, 2015Sirte, LibyaBeheadingAllegedly practicing sorceryRushdi Ageela Omran al-MasouriMLibyanOctober 16, 2015Derna, LibyaDraggingAlleged spying for LibyaMuhammad Tayib Ali al-AmriMLibyanOctober 16, 2015Derna, LibyaShootingStockpiling weapons in his homeKuol Gai Owek AjakMTwic DinkaOctober 19, 2015Derna, LibyaBeheadingTo send a message to ChristiansFaraj Ismael Abd Al-HammedMLibyanOctober 19, 2015Derna, LibyaShootingFighting in the Libyan Armed ForcesFadi Ammar ZidanMSyrianOctober 24, 2015Al-Hasakah, SyriaRan over with a tankRunning over the bodies of dead Islamic State members with a tankSeven Hazara HostagesM/FAfghani HazaraNovember 9, 2015Zabul, AfghanistanExsanguinationTo persecute Hazaras and Shi’ite MuslimsFan JinghuiMChineseDeir ez-Zor, SyriaShootingFailure to pay RansomOle Johan Grimsgaard-OfstadMNorwegianDeir ez-Zor, SyriaShootingFailure to pay RansomYevgeny Yudin "Magomed Khasiev"MRussianDecember 2, 2015Raqqa, SyriaBeheadingSpying for the Federal Security ServiceAmjad Mohammed bin SasiMLibyanDecember, 2015Sirte, LibyaShootingAllegedly insulting godMilad Ahmed AbourghebaMLibyanJanuary 16, 2016Sirte, LibyaShooting and crucifixionFighting alongside Libya Dawn300+ Iraqi soldiers, law enforcement officers and civil activists?IraqiMosul, IraqFiring squadTo send a message to IraqAyham HusseinMIraqiFebruary 16, 2016Mosul, IraqBeheadingListening to Western musicJohn Bramwell RidsdelMBritish-CanadianSulu, PhilippinesBeheadingFailure to pay RansomAbdul-Hadi Eisa Al-SalemMSyrianMay 3, 2016Al-Tabqah, SyriaStabbing, shooting and crucifixionAlleged collaboration with coalition forcesRobert Ward HallMCanadianSulu, PhilippinesBeheadingFailure to pay RansomMagomed Nurbagandovich NurbagandovMDagestani RussianJuly 10, 2016Sergokala, RussiaShootingBeing a police officerPatrick James AlmodovarMFilippinoAugust 24, 2016Indanan, PhilippinesBeheadingFailure to pay Ransom300 Iraqi civilians?IraqiOctober 28-November 7, 2016Mosul, IraqUnknown execution methodRefusing to join and fight for the Islamic StatePvt. Sefter TaşMTurkishAleppo, SyriaImmolationRetaliation for Turkish airstrikes against the Islamic StatePvt. Fethi ŞahinMTurkishAleppo, SyriaImmolationRetaliation for Turkish airstrikes against the Islamic StateJürgen Gustav KantnerMGermanSulu, PhilippinesBeheadingFailure to pay RansomLi XinhengMChineseJune 8, 2017Balochistan, PakistanExsanugationRetaliation for Pakistani military interventionMeng LisiFChineseJune 8, 2017Balochistan, PakistanExsanugationRetaliation for Pakistani military interventionNoel BescondeMFilippinoApril 13, 2017Patikul, PhilippinesBeheadingBeing sick and slowing movementsSSgt. Anni Jani SirajiMTausūgApril 23, 2017Patikul, PhilippinesBeheadingRetaliation for Filipino military interventionCpt. Petrenko Evgeny ViktorovichMRussianBadiya, SyriaBeheadingBeing a Russian intelligence officerHoàng Trung ThôngMVietnameseJuly 3, 2017Basilan, PhilippinesBeheadingFailure to pay RansomHoàng Văn HảiMVietnameseJuly 3, 2017Basilan, PhilippinesBeheadingFailure to pay RansomMohsen HojajiMIranianIraqi-Syrian border, IraqBeheadingTo send a message to Iran, “Rafidhis” (Shi’ite Muslims) and “Majusis” (Zoroastrians)Capt. Azzam EidMSyrianNovember 30, 2017SyriaImmolationTo send a message to SyriaAbdurahim KituhMFilippinoJanuary 5, 2018Basilan, PhilippinesBeheadingGiving information to the Philippine ArmyNadzwa BahitlaFFilippinoJanuary 5, 2018Basilan, PhilippinesBeheadingGiving information to the Philippine ArmyMuhannad Touqan Abu AmmarMSyrian DruzeAugust 2, 2018Suwayda, SyriaBeheadingTo send a message to SyriaSaifura Hussaini Ahmed KhorsaFNigerianSeptember 17, 2018Borno, NigeriaShootingFailure to pay RansomTharwat Fadel Abu AmmarFSyrian DruzeOctober 1, 2018Suwayda, SyriaShootingTo send a message to SyriaHauwa Mohammed LimanFNigerianOctober 15, 2018Borno, NigeriaShootingFailure to pay RansomLouisa Vesterager JespersenFDanishToubkal, MoroccoBeheading and stabbingRevenge for the Battle of HajinMaren UelandFNorwegianToubkal, MoroccoBeheading and stabbingRevenge for the Battle of HajinIsnp. Johanna JamesMHausaJune 11, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to NigeriaLCpl. Emmanuel OscarMNigerianJune 11, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to NigeriaIshaku YakubuMNigerianJuly 22, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to NigeriaLuka FilibusMNigerianJuly 22, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to NigeriaAbdulrahman DungusMNigerianJuly 22, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to NigeriaJoseph PrinceMNigerianJuly 22, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to NigeriaAbdur-Rahman BulamaMNigerianJuly 22, 2020Borno, NigeriaShootingTo send a message to Nigeria11 Hazara Shi’itesMPakistani HazaraMachh, PakistanExsanguination and shootingTo persecute Hazaras and Shi’ite MuslimsMohamed Ibrahim HamdanMEgyptian, BedouinApril 8, 2021North Sinai, EgyptShootingAlleged collaboration with Egyptian security forcesSwilam Ahmed SwilamMEgyptian, BedouinApril 8, 2021North Sinai, EgyptShootingAlleged collaboration with Egyptian security forcesNabil Habashi SalamaMCoptic EgyptianApril 17, 2021North Sinai, EgyptShootingTo send a message to ChristiansTwo Bedouin tribesmenMEgyptian, Bedouin April 17, 2021North Sinai, EgyptShootingCollaborating with Egyptian security forcesCol. Yasser al-JouraniMIraqiDecember 28, 2021Diyala, IraqBeheadingTo send a message to Iraq

Military captives By June 2014, according to United Nations reports, ISIL had killed hundreds of prisoners of war and over 1,000 civilians. Specific incidents involving the killing of military prisoners including the mass killing of up to 250 Syrian Army soldiers near Tabqa Air base,"Video shows Islamic State executes scores of Syrian soldiers". Reuters. 28 August 2014. and killings that took place in Camp Speicher (1,095–1,700 Iraqi soldiers shot and "thousands" more "missing") and the Shaer gas field (200 Syrian soldiers shot). ISIL was reported to have beheaded about 100 foreign fighters as deserters who tried to leave Raqqa.

Muath al-Kasasbeh, a Royal Jordanian Air Force pilot whose F-16 fighter aircraft crashed near Raqqa, Syria, on 24 December 2014 during the international military intervention against ISIL, was captured by ISIL, and on 3 February 2015 released a video showing al-Kasasbeh being burned to death while trapped inside a cage. On 22 December 2016, ISIL has released a video showing two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive.

Civilian captives