ISIS: Floridian Steven Sotloff is Next

A South Florida journalist who went missing last August while working in Syria is believed to be the second man depicted in a video released by the militant organization ISIS on Tuesday. His life, according to the video, is in the hands of President Barack Obama and the future decisions he makes in regard to Iraq and the Middle East.

“The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision,” a black-garbed man says in clear English while holding up a man dressed in an orange, prison-like jumpsuit for the camera to see. Officials, the Associated Press is reporting, believe the prisoner is Steven Joel Sotloff, a journalist from the Miami area who was reported missing last August while working in Syria.

Sotloff is a former University of Central Florida student, who has reported for such news agencies as Time, the Christian Science Monitor and World Affairs, according to the New York Daily News.

The video, reportedly released by ISIS on YouTube, depicts the beheading death of fellow journalist James Foley. He went missing in November 2012 when the car he was in was stopped by militants in northern Syria.

While U.S. officials were working to determine the authenticity of the video, Foley’s family and several anonymous government sources have indicated it is real, the AP reported.

“We have never been prouder of our son Jim,” a post on the Find James Foley Facebook page said Wednesday. “He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people.”

The post has been attributed to Diane Foley, James’ mother.

“We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages,” she went on to say. “Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.”

The ISIS threats appear related to the recent airstrikes the U.S. has conducted in Iraq.

Friends of Sotloff have launched a Facebook page and an online petition imploring the U.S. government to do everything it can to free the journalist.

“We, the undersigned call upon you, President Obama, to take immediate action to save Steven’s life by any means necessary,” the White House petition reads. The petition was created Tuesday and had nearly 3,000 signatures by Wednesday morning.

What do you think the U.S. should do? Tell us by commenting below.

Photo Credit: YouTube screen shot