The militant group Islamic State has issued a video that appears aimed to deflect criticism and exhort Iraq's minority Yazidis to convert to Islam.
The propaganda film's release comes amid widespread condemnation of Islamic State over the beheading of American journalist James Foley in a video issued on August 19 and the killings of hundreds of Yazidi men, women, and children.
During an advance through northern Iraq, Islamic State militants have stormed into villages and demanded Yazidis convert to Islam or die.
The video purports to show dozens of Yazidi men converting to Islam. It shows a black-clad fighter with an assault rifle saying that many depictions of Islamic State are "the opposite of reality" and that many Yazidis are "are happy with their conversions."
The fighter adds, "If they convert, we will give them everything they need. They will live a happy life."
