Time to act…

IN recent weeks the world has watched, powerless, as three brave men have been butchered by monsters.

The murders of James Foley, Steven Sotloff and David Cawthorne Haines have shaken us in a way that the deaths of thousands in Iraq and Syria did not, but maybe now, finally, our governments will do something about it.

Over the last year, ISIL has brought nothing but instability, terror and unimaginable bloodshed to Syria and Iraq.

Countless have been killed at the hands of these animals under the guise of an ideology that has no place in any religion.

If a terrorist organisation can indiscriminately kill journalists and aid workers, then nobody is safe. Any one of us could be next.

James Foley and Steven Sotloff were journalists, just trying to do their job and report the truth to the world. They were killed because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

David Cawthorne Haines was an aid worker providing food, medicine and comfort to those who needed it.

There is no reason on earth as to why he should have been killed except for pure sadism.

Alan Henning, ISIL’s next victim, is a taxi driver who decided to drive aid to Syria. His life, and the lives of his family, has been turned upside down because he refused to sit idly by whilst others suffered.

We cannot stay silent while he suffers. Do nothing and we are as guilty as those who are committing these barbaric crimes.

How many more must die before our governments act? Why have they still not done anything? This uncontrolled violence must be brought to an end, and those with the power to do so must act now.