New York Post front page photo of James Foley sparks outrage

The New York Post is making headlines for all the wrong reasons after publishing a graphic image on the front page of American journalist James Foley about to be executed.

The popular paper, which is edited by Australian Col Allan, published the image of the slain 40-year-old with a knife held against his throat.

Yahoo7 News declined to publish the graphic image in this story, but it can be seen here. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE

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In Australia, readers have condemned local publications for also publishing graphic images on their front pages of the moments before Foley was executed.

The Daily Telegraph, a News Corp publication, splashed the headline 'Pure Evil' across the front page, accompanied by a graphic image showing the executioner's knife just centimetres from Foley's throat.

The Courier Mail, a Brisbane paper also owned by News Corp, also ran the same image and headline on the front page.

Jihadist group the Islamic State claimed to have executed 40-year-old James Foley in revenge for US air strikes against its fighters in Iraq.

The Islamist group released a video showing a masked militant purportedly beheading the reporter, who has been missing since he was seized by armed men in Syria in November 2012.

In the five-minute video, distributed online by known Islamic State sources, the group declares that Foley was killed after US President Barack Obama ordered air strikes against IS positions in northern Iraq.

The unconfirmed video, published by Twitter accounts claiming to be associated with the Islamic State, shows a prisoner in orange being forced to kneel and recite a message to the United States of America.

“I call on my friends, family, and loved ones to rise up against my real killers, the US government,” the prisoner, believed to be Foley, is heard to say.

“For what will happen to me is only a result of their complacency and criminality.

“I call on my brother John, who is a member of the US air force. Think about what you are doing, think about the lives you destroy, including those of your own family.”

“Think John, who did they really kill? And did they think about me, you, our family when they made that decision?”

“I guess all in all I wish I wasn’t American.”

The 40-year-old journalist is then beheaded by a masked man believed to be from Britain.

“Any attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their rights of living in safety under the Islamic caliphate will result in the bloodshed of your people,” the executioner says.

Foley's grieving mother praised her "extraordinary son" who she says died while trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people.

"We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person," Diane Foley said.

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"We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people," she wrote on Facebook.

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