The American hostage before being beheaded

BAGHDAD, September 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – An American national held hostage in Iraq was beheaded Tuesday, September 21, by an Iraqi group that threatened to kill the other two hostages, a Briton and American, within 24 hours unless female Iraqi prisoners held by the US occupation forces are released.

The group calling itself Al-Tawhid wal Jihad, reportedly led by Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, said in a statement, posted on the Internet that it had decapitated Eugene Jack Armstrong, adding his job was to provide supplies for the occupation forces.

The group further said the other two hostages it holds; Briton Kenneth Bigley and American Jack Hensley, would be decapitated within 24 hours if London and Washington continued to ignore the demands for the release of Iraqi women prisoners in the custody of US-led forces.

“Because you Americans have not freed our sisters... and because your agent Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi claims that in your prisons you have only two women from the former regime... we are cutting off this head,” Agence France Presse (AFP) reported.

The issue of abductions in Iraq has caused a great controversy worldwide with Muslims condemning it, in conformity with the rulings of Islam that prohibits terrorizing civilians even at times of war.

An Algerian well-known Islamic leader went on an open-ended hunger strike till all foreigners abducted in Iraq are released.

Abbasi Madani, the ailing leader of Algeria 's banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) has vowed to continue the hunger strike he began Tuesday, September 14, “until death.”

Click here to read Islam’s Stance on Killing Captives.

The American embassy in Baghdad, for its part, condemned the beheading.

“We condemn categorically this barbaric act and we denounce those responsible for engaging in the worst kind of savagery,” said embassy spokesman Bob Callahan.

It further said the body of the beheaded American citizen was found.

“His body has been recovered and it's been identified,” Reuters quoted a US official as speaking on condition of anonymity.

Armstrong, along with British engineer Kenneth Bigley and American Jack Hensley, were abducted Thursday from their house in the Iraqi capital and threatened with execution unless Iraqi women were released from prison.

Appeal

In a related development, the family of Bigley appealed for British Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet the demands of the militant group to help release the British hostage.

“Please meet the demands and release my father -- two women for two men," Bigley's brother told the BBC News Online.

“Only you can save him now. You have children and you will understand how I feel at this time.”

“His love of the area is what has kept him there for so many years and is the reason he was prepared to help in Baghdad where many others would be worried for their own safety,” he added.

There was yet not reaction from the British government on the demands of Bigley's family.

Blair had Monday turned down to clarify which measure would be taken by the British government to set free the hostages held in Iraq.

In another aspect of the hostage crisis, some 18 Iraqi guardsmen, kidnapped Monday, were released after a mediation from Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr.

“All 18 have been freed at the request of Sayed Moqtada Sadr," AFP quoted Naim Al-Qaabi, representative of Sadr as saying.

The 18 hostages were kidnapped Monday by an Iraqi group calling itself the Mohammad Bin Abdullah Brigades, demanding the release of Hazem Al-Araji, an aid to the firebrand Al-Sadr who was arrested by the US forces in Iraq.