The Islamic State (ISIS) has reportedly executed Ruqia Hassan for working inside its territory in Syria, marking what is believed to be the first execution of a female citizen journalist by the terrorist group.

Hassan, who went by the pseudonym Nisan Ibrahim on social media, was an independent reporter who studied philosophy at Aleppo University and joined the opposition to Bashar al-Assad’s regime when the revolution began in Raqqa. After ISIS entered the city, she refused to leave and began reporting on human rights abuses occurring within the city. Abu Mohammed, founder of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), confirmed Hassan’s death and shared her last known message: “I’m in Raqqa and I received death threats, and when Isis [arrests] me and kills me it’s ok because they will cut my head and I have dignity its better than I live in humiliation with Isis [sic].”

An independent journalist who has worked with RBSS, Furat al-Wafaa, said that the reason for Hassan’s execution is that ISIS “want their fighters and supporters to know that the Islamic State is capable of taking revenge against those who speak against them.” Hassan is the fifth journalist to be killed by the group since October.

•Sourced from New York Times (USA)/The Independent (UK). Photo shows executed female journalist Ruqia Hassan alias Nisan Ibrahim.