Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh (L), who was captured by Islamic State (IS) jihadist group on December 24 in Syria, and Sajida al-Rishawi (R), a would-be suicide bomber on death row since 2006. (AFP)
Amman:
The Islamic State terrorist group has issued a new death threat. A new audio message in what seems to be Japanese hostage Kenji Goto's voice sets today's deadline for the swap of a failed female suicide bomber on death row in Jordan .
The Japanese Prime Minister's spokesperson has said the government is trying to verify the new message. The brief 30 second audio seems to have been posted in a hurry since it has no picture of the captive like the Islamic State - also known as IS - has done in the past. It just has an Arabic translation of the audio message.
In the latest message, the voice says, "If Sajeda al-Reshawi is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday, sunset 29th of January Mosul time, the Jordanian pilot Mu'ath al-Kaseasbah will be killed immediately."
The pilot being referred to is the first military member from the US-led coalition captured by the Islamic State. He was captured after his aircraft went down in Syria during an air-strike in December 2014.
While IS claimed that it had shot down the F-16, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had said the jet had crashed.
The 'Islamic State is demanding Sajeda al-Rashawi be freed in exchange for the second Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto and the pilot. Sajeda, her husband and two other men carried out the suicide attacks on the Radisson Hotel and other targets in Amman in 2005 killing 60 people. Sajeda's explosive belt reportedly didn't detonate and she has been convicted and is on death row.
Jordan is reportedly considering the swap.
The Jordanian pilot's family belongs to an influential tribe and King Abdullah II can't afford to antagonise them. The Government Spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani has said that Jordan is ready to release Sajeda if the pilot is freed. On Wednesday he said, "Her release is tied to freeing our pilot." But, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh tweeted on his official account that a request for proof that the pilot was safe had gone unanswered.
The 'Islamic State' known locally by its Arabic acronym 'Da'esh' had initially demanded $200 million to release both Japanese nationals. That's the exact amount Japan's Prime Minister had pledged in non-military aid to countries in the region fighting the group. The demand was then changed to a prisoner swap after an 'execution video' of another Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa was posted last week.
Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yusuhide Nakayama has been camping in Jordan's capital Amman after a first message by IS appeared a week ago. The Japanese Government is worried any potential swap will not free its national Mr Goto. The Jordanian Foreign Minister though has been quoted by media as saying 'of course' he will be part of the deal.
The US White House Spokesperson Eric Shultz denied this was a similar situation to the swap of American armyman Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl for five Afghan Taliban leaders held prisoner.
"The Taliban is an armed insurgency. ISIL is a terrorist group, so we don't make concessions to terrorist groups," said Mr Shultz.
The Japanese Prime Minister's spokesperson has said the government is trying to verify the new message. The brief 30 second audio seems to have been posted in a hurry since it has no picture of the captive like the Islamic State - also known as IS - has done in the past. It just has an Arabic translation of the audio message.
In the latest message, the voice says, "If Sajeda al-Reshawi is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday, sunset 29th of January Mosul time, the Jordanian pilot Mu'ath al-Kaseasbah will be killed immediately."
The pilot being referred to is the first military member from the US-led coalition captured by the Islamic State. He was captured after his aircraft went down in Syria during an air-strike in December 2014.
While IS claimed that it had shot down the F-16, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had said the jet had crashed.
The 'Islamic State is demanding Sajeda al-Rashawi be freed in exchange for the second Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto and the pilot. Sajeda, her husband and two other men carried out the suicide attacks on the Radisson Hotel and other targets in Amman in 2005 killing 60 people. Sajeda's explosive belt reportedly didn't detonate and she has been convicted and is on death row.
Jordan is reportedly considering the swap.
The Jordanian pilot's family belongs to an influential tribe and King Abdullah II can't afford to antagonise them. The Government Spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani has said that Jordan is ready to release Sajeda if the pilot is freed. On Wednesday he said, "Her release is tied to freeing our pilot." But, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh tweeted on his official account that a request for proof that the pilot was safe had gone unanswered.
The 'Islamic State' known locally by its Arabic acronym 'Da'esh' had initially demanded $200 million to release both Japanese nationals. That's the exact amount Japan's Prime Minister had pledged in non-military aid to countries in the region fighting the group. The demand was then changed to a prisoner swap after an 'execution video' of another Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa was posted last week.
Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yusuhide Nakayama has been camping in Jordan's capital Amman after a first message by IS appeared a week ago. The Japanese Government is worried any potential swap will not free its national Mr Goto. The Jordanian Foreign Minister though has been quoted by media as saying 'of course' he will be part of the deal.
The US White House Spokesperson Eric Shultz denied this was a similar situation to the swap of American armyman Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl for five Afghan Taliban leaders held prisoner.
"The Taliban is an armed insurgency. ISIL is a terrorist group, so we don't make concessions to terrorist groups," said Mr Shultz.
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