The US and UK governments have a long-standing policy of refusing to pay ransoms to terrorist organizations. Moreover, when Michael Foley, brother of James Foley, one of the hostages, received a ransom demand, the FBI warned him that under US law, to pay money to terrorists is a crime.
为《纽约时报》作报道的茹米妮·卡里玛奇（Rukmini Callimachi）解释了这一差别对待。美国和英国政府一直拒绝向恐怖组织支付赎金。此外，人质之一詹姆斯·弗雷（James Foley）的兄弟迈克尔·弗雷（Michael Foley）曾收到过赎金要求，但FBI警告他，根据美国法律，向恐怖分子付钱是刑事罪。后来，弗雷惨遭处决。