‘God didn’t take his life, hatred did’: Mother of journalist killed by ISIS chooses the path of forgiveness.

Diane Foley, the mother of journalist James Foley, who was murdered by ISIS in 2014, has shared that her Christian faith has been a source of strength in coping with the brutal loss of her son. A decade after his death, Diane released her memoir, American Mother, in which she describes feeling “challenged by God” to turn her painful experience into advocacy for other families of hostages.

Reflecting on her son, Diane said, “Jim was an optimistic person, always seeing the good in others and expecting the best.” This outlook, combined with her faith, inspired her to create the Foley Foundation, which advocates for the rights of journalists and provides support to families of hostages.

“I truly believe in a loving and merciful God,” Diane explained, adding that her faith helped her through the tragedy. “I knew that God didn’t kill him. It was human hatred that caused it.” She emphasized that hatred, not faith, fueled the radical jihadists responsible for her son’s death.

Diane also reflected on the October 7th attacks, acknowledging how the pain of the families of hostages today echoes her own experience: “It brings back the horror, now played out on a global stage. We’re witnessing the devastation that war and hatred cause.”

She lamented the cycle of hatred and revenge, calling for dialogue and problem-solving: “As society has become more secular, I feel we’ve lost some of the values taught in faith traditions, like kindness, patience, and love for one another.”