Shocking Image Of Australian Boy Holding Decapitated Head Provokes Outrage

    "That's my boy."

    Mark Di Stefano
    by Mark Di Stefano

    BuzzFeed News Reporter, Australia

    A photo that reportedly shows the 7-year-old son of an Australian jihadi holding the head of a Syrian fighter has been uploaded to Twitter sparking widespread condemnation.

    The Australian / Via theaustralian.com.au

    The image showing the boy holding the severed head with two hands was posted by Khaled Sharouf last week.

    According to The Australian, the picture was taken in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa and was accompanied by the text "Thats my boy!"

    Sharouf has been leading an English-speaking unit within the "Islamic State", fighting in Syria, and using social media platforms to regularly post pictures of severed heads of government forces.

    It shocked the Australian public on Monday morning when the photo appeared on the front page of The Australian with a full report of Sharouf's social media activity.

    David Marler @Qldaah

    Child holding up head of decapitated Syrian man on front page of @australian. #MediaWatch

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    Michael Byrnes @MichaelByrnes

    That picture reportedly showing Khaled Sharrouf's son is horrendous - sickening, regressive barbarism. Medieval brutality. #auspol

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    Peter van Onselen @vanOnselenP

    It's a statement of the obvious, but I'm sickened and saddened by that photo on the frontpage of today's Australian...

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    Dr Jamal Rifi @JamalRifi1

    Sharrouf diagnosed with schizophrenia.these photos are sickening can only be done by a sick,very sick person.his actions are deplorable

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    Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the photo is "more evidence of just how barbaric (ISIL) is," while the Defence Minister Sen. David Johnston linked the publication to the need for new counter-terrorism laws to fight so-called home grown terrorists.

    "I'm obviously revolted by that and it underscores the importance of the counter-terrorism laws we are seeking to enact," Sen. Johnston told ABC News.

    There were some people who criticised the image being published by The Australian.

    Asher Wolf @Asher_Wolf

    Oh FFS, @australian. The image you used on your front page is a dime a dozen atm. But you just wanted to use it for a political agenda

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    Among those included high-profile British MP Tom Watson.

    tom_watson @tom_watson

    Hello @rupertmurdoch, The front page of The @australian has a picture of a child holding a decapitated head. How do you feel about that?

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    Sharrouf (right), who has an Australian arrest warrant in his name, has posted pictures of his children brandishing guns in front of "Islamic State" banners.

    The Australian / Via resources0.news.com.au

    Twitter had already suspended Sharouf's account for posting pictures like the one below.

    The Australian / Via theaustralian.com.au

    UPDATE: British newspaper The Sun published the image on the front page of its Tuesday edition. Both newspapers are owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

    Hugh Whitfeld @hughwhitfeld

    GRAPHIC WARNING: Aussie jihadists son holding head is front page of UK Sun newspaper, Tuesday.

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