My dad was beheaded by ISIS – my tattoo is constant reminder of what he stood for
THE daughter of a Scots aid worker murdered by IS in Syria has had herself tattooed with her dad’s “three rules to survive” — in his handwriting.
Bethany Haines, 26, is paying tribute to David Haines, 44, with the advice he gave fellow hostages before his beheading in 2014 was filmed and released as propaganda footage by the evil terrorist group.
This year marks a decade since Bethany last saw her dad, from Perth, and the mum of one said: “It’s ten years since I last saw my dad face to face. I wanted something to commemorate that.
“I’d known my dad said these three rules to other hostages on how to survive in captivity.
“He’d previously had military training, and they stuck out to me. Since he told them, I kind of live by that.
“It made sense to get them on my leg to remind me to live that way and commemorate him.
“My dad had always said to stand up and say what you think and fight for what you believe.”
The tattoo reads, ‘The three rules to survive: Always tell the truth. Get into a routine. Play the game’.
Teaching assistant student Bethany added: “It’s in his handwriting. I found old Christmas cards, and emailed tattoo artists. It came out so well.”
She is still hoping to bring her dad’s remains home to Scotland, and is in contact with sources in Syria who believe they have narrowed down potential grave sites.
Bethany travelled to the US in 2022 for ex-British jihadist El Shafee Elsheikh’s trial and met Londoner terrorist Alexanda Kotey, who she spoke to face-to-face for an hour.
Both are linked to David’s death and serving life sentences.
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