ISIL defector reveals why hostages are so calm before executions

An ISIL defector has revealed why the terror group's hostages appear so calm in the minutes before they are beheaded.

The former translator known only as Saleh told Sky News that hostages are routinely subjected to mock rehearsals of their execution.

He said they are lulled into a false sense of security and only become aware of their impending death the moment the knife strikes.

Saleh said he was instructed by alleged executioner "Jihadi John", who has been identified as 26-year-old Londoner Mohammed Emwazi, to reassure hostages no harm would come to them.

"No problem, only on video, we don't kill you, we want from your government (to) stop attacking Syria," he is quoted as telling the victims.

"We don't have any problem with you; you are only our visitors."

Saleh went on to reveal that the terror group, also known as ISIS and Daesh, called hostages by their appointed Arabic names to make them feel as if they were among friends.

Japanese photojournalist Kenji Goto, for example, was given the name Abu Saad by his killers.

"I noticed Goto, when they said Abu Saad to Goto, direct he relax," Saleh said.

"All the time he say to him 'it's a rehearsal, don't (be) afraid'," he added, saying when Goto's execution finally arrived "it didn't enter his head" that it would be real.

There was earlier speculation that hostages – such as journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and English aid workers David Haines, Peter Kassig and Alan Henning and Goto’s fellow countryman, Hauruna Yukawa – may have been drugged to explain why all were so calm when addressing their governments in propaganda videos.

Source: Sky News