Family of US reporter Foley, slain by IS, protests French far right tweets of execution photos

PARIS – The family of American reporter James Foley is urging French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to take down tweets of gruesome photos of him and others executed by Islamic State extremists.

French authorities are investigating the tweets, which Le Pen posted in response to a journalist who made an analogy between her National Front party and IS extremists. Le Pen was trying to show the distinction between the two.

Diane Foley said on French radio RTL Thursday that the tweets "add to the family's pain." The family issued a statement saying,"We are deeply disturbed by the unsolicited use of Jim for Le Pen's political gain" and want the photos taken down "immediately."

Foley was captured in 2012 and beheaded in 2014.