In a tit-for-tat move by Jordan, the country has announced that it has executed Sajida al-Rishawi , the failed woman suicide bomber whose release ISIS had called for several times. Another prisoner identified as Ziad Karbouli, who was reportedly a top leader of al-Qaida and a close confidant of dead al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was also executed. ISIS had previously repeatedly called for the release of Sajida al-Rishawi in lieu of the release of the two Japanese hostages as well as captured Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh (also spelt Kasasbeh).
According to CNN, the execution of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad Karbouli came barely a few hours after horrific pictures that showed Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh being burnt alive inside a cage was released by ISIS. Earlier, the Inquisitr had reported that Jordan would start executing all six ISIS prisoners they have in their custody in retaliation to the Jordanian pilot’s killing. Hours after that report, a Jordanian government spokesperson, Mohammad al-Momani, has confirmed that Sajida al-Rishawi and the other prisoner has been executed, and that more executions are to follow.
Earlier, Momani had confirmed that there would be a strong response from Jordan in response to Muath al-Kasaesbeh’s brutal assassination. In a statement televised across Jordanian TV stations, he said the following.
“The Jordanian response to the assassination of the hero pilot, Muath al-Kasaesbeh, will be strong, decisive and swift. Our punishment and revenge will be as huge as the loss of the Jordanians. While the military forces mourn the martyr, they emphasize his blood will not be shed in vain.”
Meanwhile, according to USA Today , after news of the Jordanian pilots brutal killing went public, protests erupted all over Jordan, with large groups of people taking to the streets demanding revenge. Several protesters thronged the streets of Jordanian capital Amman with placards that read as follows.
“With the blood and self, we are sacrificing ourselves for Muath.”
There was another poster, which said the following.
“They burned our hearts, so let’s burn their dens, and their prisoners in our prisons.”
According to experts, the brutal killing of Muath al-Kasaesbeh seems to have seriously dented the image of ISIS in the Arab World, and public perception about ISIS is likely to tank. The killing of the pilot and the strong response by Jordan is also likely to increase the popularity of King Abdullah, the ruler of the country. People who were earlier seen chanting “Death to America” are now calling for ISIS to be decimated.
The tit-for-tat killings of two captive terrorists by Jordan could, however, spell bad news for two other prisoners who are in ISIS custody now. The ISIS is known to hold at least two western individuals hostage — John Cantlie, a British journalist, and a 26-year-old American woman aid worker.
Nevertheless, there is no denying the fact that the by the execution of Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad Karbouli, Jordan has sent a strong message to ISIS telling them they are not be messed with — probably the strongest response to the brutality of the ISIS by any sovereign country.
[Image via Telegraph UK ]
