Jordan King Vows Harsh Response to ’ISIL’ after Pilot Murder
Local Editor
King Abdullah II vowed Jordan will take tough action after hanging two convicted militants Wednesday in response to the burning alive of one of its pilots by the "ISIL" terrorist group.
The gruesome murder of airman Maaz al-Kassasbeh triggered international condemnation and prompted Jordan to execute two Iraqis on death row -- female would-be suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi and al-Qaeda operative Ziad al-Karboli.
Abdullah cut short a visit to the United States and flew back to Amman, where he was greeted by large crowds at the airport before meeting with his security chiefs.
"The blood of martyr Maaz al-Kassasbeh will not be in vain and the response of Jordan and its army after what happened to our dear son will be severe," he said afterwards, quoted by the royal court.
For his part, Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani said the kingdom was "more determined than ever to fight the terrorist group Daesh," using an Arabic acronym for "ISIL".
The statements came after Jordan said it hanged Rishawi and Karboli before dawn at a prison south of the capital.
Amman had promised to begin executing extremists in response to the murder of Kassasbeh, the 26-year-old who was captured by "ISIL" when his F-16 fighter plane went down in Syria in December.
The "ISIL" group had offered to spare Kassasbeh's life and free Japanese journalist Kenji Goto - who was later beheaded - in exchange for Rishawi's release.
In a highly choreographed 22-minute video released Tuesday, Kassasbeh is seen wearing an orange jumpsuit surrounded by armed and masked extremists before he appears inside a metal cage apparently soaked in petrol.
One of the terrorists lights a trail of flame that runs into the cage and burns him alive.
The killing sparked outrage in Jordan and demonstrations in Amman and the city of Karak, the home of Kassasbeh's influential tribe.
Egypt's al-Azhar called for the "killing, crucifixion or chopping of the limbs" of "ISIL" militants, expressing outrage over their "cowardly act".
The hangings came just weeks after Jordan ended an eight-year moratorium on the death penalty.
They were criticized by rights campaigners, with Amnesty International saying executions should not be used "as a tool for revenge".
Rishawi, 44, was sentenced to death for her participation in triple hotel bombings in Amman in 2005 that killed 60 people.
She was closely linked to "ISIL's" predecessor organization in Iraq and seen as an important symbol for the extremists.
Karboli was sentenced to death in 2007 on terrorism charges, including the killing of a Jordanian in Iraq.
The New York Times, quoting US officials, reported Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates had suspended its participation in December after Kassasbeh's capture due to fears for the safety of its pilots.
There was no official confirmation of the report.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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