Jordon opts for retributory justice to avenge its pilot’s killing

Jordon responds to Kasaesbeh's killing, executes two Iraqi militants
by NewsGram Staff

Image Credit: Moyan Brenn

In an attempt to send a strong message, responding to the killing of its Pilot Jordon hanged two Iraqi militants. It had vouched for an "earth shaking response" after the video broadcast of the Pilot being burnt alive by the hardliners. The pilot, Muath al-Kasaesbeh was captured when his F-16 crashed in northeastern Syria in December last year.

One of the militants hanged by Jordon was Sajida al-Rishawi, sentenced to death for a bomb attach in Amman in 2005. She was much-sought by the Islamic State for release in exchange for a Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto, who was eventually beheaded as Jordon had insisted on release of the pilot as part of the deal. The other militant executed was a senior al Qaeda member, Ziyad Karboli.

Kasaesbeh was a member of a large tribe that plays a major role in the support of the Hashemite monarchy. The people of Jordon are thoroughly apprehensive of King Abdullah's political backing toward the U.S.-led war as Kasaesbeh's fate has become a matter of concern and raised a fear of further militant reactions. Jordon is a major ally to the U.S. against hardline Islamist groups. It has a tactical support from the U.S. at its borders to help fortify the border defences to check the jihadists' intrusion from Syria.

The Syrian government also condemned the killing and asked Jordon to cooperate it in tackling the hardliners and al Qaeda-backed Nusrat Front. The U.S., however, has ruled out any partnership with Syria as it deems President Bashar al-Assad as part of the issues.

Meanwhile, the victim's father came up to appeal that the two executions would not suffice and a more elaborate action was required to avenge the killing. "I want the state to get revenge for my son's blood through more executions of those people who follow this criminal group that shares nothing with Islam. Jordanians are demanding that the state and coalition take revenge with even more painful blows to destroy these criminals." Safi al-Kasaesbeh told the Reuters.