"The report on ISIL extremists' killing of Mr. Kenji Goto Jogo, the second Japanese hostage, became a source of regret and the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns such terrorist acts and once again extends the Iranian government and nation's condolences to the honorable Japanese government and nation and the family of the Japanese national for this regrettable incident," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said on Monday.
She expressed regret that terrorist and extremist groups have no logic, and added, "As it has been repeatedly stated, the creation of such extremist groups is the result of the West and their regional allies' incorrect policies and will finally lead to the spread of terrorism in the region and the world, which is not acceptable in any form."
Goto's beheading was confirmed by the ISIL in a video message released on Saturday, 31 January. Last week, the terror group released a video depicting the murder of Japanese citizen Haruna Yukawa.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the “barbaric” murder of Kenji Goto, saying that his death underscores the violence that so many have been subjected to in Iraq and Syria.
Like the UN chief, Security Council members expressed their deep sympathy to Goto's family and to the people of Japan.
The members underlined the need to bring perpetrators of acts of terrorism to justice. Those responsible for the killing of Kenji Goto must be held accountable, they stressed, urging all States to cooperate with Japan.
ISIL must be defeated and the violence and hatred it espouses stamped out, Council members stressed, emphasizing that such “acts of barbarism perpetrated by ISIL do not intimidate them but rather stiffen their resolve”.
The Security Council demanded the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those who are kept hostage by ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and all other groups associated with Al-Qaida. They also recalled that, in accordance with international humanitarian law, journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict are considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such.
They also recalled that ISIL is included on the Al-Qaida Sanctions List and is thus subject to the asset freeze and arms embargo in resolution 2161 (2014). Any individual or entity that provides financial or material support to the group, including the provision of arms or recruits, is eligible to be added to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List and subject to sanctions measures.
Members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation.
