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Jordan prepared to swap terrorist convict for pilot captured by Islamic State Jordan prepared to swap terrorist convict for pilot captured by Islamic State
(about 1 hour later)
AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan said Wednesday that it was prepared to swap a prisoner sentenced to death for her role in a string of 2005 Amman hotel bombings for a Jordanian pilot who was captured by Islamic State fighters.AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan said Wednesday that it was prepared to swap a prisoner sentenced to death for her role in a string of 2005 Amman hotel bombings for a Jordanian pilot who was captured by Islamic State fighters.
The sensational offer to free the suicide bomber, whose device failed to explode, illustrates the tremendous pressure that Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his government have faced over the pilot’s capture in Syria last month. But the exchange appeared to hit an obstacle later in the day, and an audio recording was released threatening to kill the pilot.
Jordan’s sensational offer to free the suicide bomber, an Iraqi whose device failed to explode, illustrates the tremendous pressure that Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his government have faced over the pilot’s capture in Syria last month.
An exchange of prisoners would be a first for the Islamic State, which has beheaded a number of captives including U.S. and other Western journalists and aid workers. Previously, the group had reportedly released European captives in exchange for ransom.An exchange of prisoners would be a first for the Islamic State, which has beheaded a number of captives including U.S. and other Western journalists and aid workers. Previously, the group had reportedly released European captives in exchange for ransom.
The offer could undermine the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State by encouraging more hostage-taking. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has seized large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.The offer could undermine the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State by encouraging more hostage-taking. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has seized large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.
Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani said in a statement Wednesday that Jordan was ready to release prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi, who is Iraqi, if the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, was freed unharmed. His plane crashed in Syria during a bombing run. Late Wednesday, an audio recording was issued threatening to kill the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, unless the would-be suicide bomber, Sajida al-Rishawi, was presented at the Turkish border Thursday, according to the Site Intelligence Group. It said Twitter accounts linked to Islamic State had distributed the message, which was attributed to a Japanese hostage believed held by the same people who have the Jordanian pilot.
Momani did not offer details and did not say whether the swap had been scheduled. “I’m Kenji Goto Jogo. This is a voice message I’ve been told to send to you,” said the man in the recording. If Rishawi wasn’t ready to be exchanged for him at the border by sunset on Thursday, he said, the Jordanian “will be killed immediately.”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser S. Judeh tweeted later Wednesday: “We asked for evidence about the health and safety of our hero but it did not come.” Jordan’s information minister, Mohammad al-Momani, said earlier that his government was ready to release Rishawi if the pilot was freed unharmed.
Judeh also told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that the negotiations were going on “perhaps through indirect channels.” But later Wednesday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser S. Judeh tweeted: “We asked for evidence about the health and safety of our hero but it did not come.”
According to a Jordanian National Police official, authorities earlier Wednesday transferred Rishawi from her cell in the Juweideh prison in southern Amman to an “undisclosed location” pending her potential release. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give statements to news organizations. Judeh told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that the negotiations were going on “perhaps through indirect channels.”
Jordan is part of the U.S.-led coalition seeking to turn back the Islamic State advances in Iraq and Syria. According to a Jordanian National Police official, authorities had transferred Rishawi Wednesday from her cell in the Juweideh prison in southern Amman to an “undisclosed location” pending her potential release. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give statements to news organizations.
The Jordanian public, however, has been outraged over the capture of the pilot, whose family and friends have made emotional appeals for his release. They have criticized Jordan’s participation in the war against the militants. Jordan is part of the U.S.-led coalition seeking to turn back the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The Jordanian public, however, has been outraged over the capture of the pilot. They have criticized Jordan’s participation in the war against the militants.
The U.S. government has vigorously opposed paying ransom for kidnap victims held by the Islamic State. Asked about the Jordan case, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday that “we don’t make concessions to terrorists.” But she added that “every country has the ability and the right to make decisions” within the bounds of international law.The U.S. government has vigorously opposed paying ransom for kidnap victims held by the Islamic State. Asked about the Jordan case, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday that “we don’t make concessions to terrorists.” But she added that “every country has the ability and the right to make decisions” within the bounds of international law.
The announcement that Jordan was ready for a deal came less than a day after the Islamic State issued a 24-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute Kaseasbeh and another captive, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. Judeh, the Jordanian official, said that the journalist was part of the deal but that his country’s priority was its pilot. The announcement that Jordan was ready for a deal came less than a day after the Islamic State issued a 24-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute Kaseasbeh and the Japanese hostage, a journalist whose government has identified him as Kenji Goto.
Jordan has long rejected negotiating with militant groups. Rishawi is on death row for her involvement in suicide bombings against three Amman hotels in 2005. More than 60 people were killed in the attacks.Jordan has long rejected negotiating with militant groups. Rishawi is on death row for her involvement in suicide bombings against three Amman hotels in 2005. More than 60 people were killed in the attacks.
Rishawi was captured after a suicide belt she wore failed to detonate during an attack on the Radisson Hotel in Amman. She was sentenced to death in September 2006. Rishawi was captured after a suicide belt she wore failed to detonate during an attack on the Radisson Hotel in Amman.
The attacks were masterminded by the Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group, al-Qaeda in Iraq, was the ideological and organizational precursor to the Islamic State. Rishawi is the sister of a former close aide to Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.The attacks were masterminded by the Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group, al-Qaeda in Iraq, was the ideological and organizational precursor to the Islamic State. Rishawi is the sister of a former close aide to Zarqawi, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.
These connections have made Rishawi a highly prized detainee for the Islamic State.
“Time and time again, the Islamic State has made clear its desire to see the release of Rishawi,” said Mohammed Shalbi, known as Abu Sayyef, head of an ultraconservative Jordanian Muslim movement. His group maintains ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.“Time and time again, the Islamic State has made clear its desire to see the release of Rishawi,” said Mohammed Shalbi, known as Abu Sayyef, head of an ultraconservative Jordanian Muslim movement. His group maintains ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
“This may be the one and only demand that can lead to Muath’s release,” he said.“This may be the one and only demand that can lead to Muath’s release,” he said.
Jordan has jailed more than 60 suspected members and supporters of the Islamic State over the past three months.
The Jordanian government has come under growing popular pressure to obtain the pilot’s safe return.The Jordanian government has come under growing popular pressure to obtain the pilot’s safe return.
The protests have been led by Kaseasbeh’s family, members of an influential tribe from the southern city of Karak, who have sought to swing public opinion against Jordan’s role in the war against the Islamic State. The protests have been led by Kaseasbeh’s family, members of an influential tribe from the southern city of Karak.
“To this date, we have not seen a real effort by any official to secure Muath’s safe return or to keep our sons out of harm’s way,” Joudat Kaseasbeh, the pilot’s brother, told The Washington Post.“To this date, we have not seen a real effort by any official to secure Muath’s safe return or to keep our sons out of harm’s way,” Joudat Kaseasbeh, the pilot’s brother, told The Washington Post.
In Karak on Wednesday, about 200 of Kaseasbeh’s relatives rallied at the governor’s office, blocking roads with burning tires. In the capital, supporters of Kaseasbeh demonstrated in front of the prime minister’s office and the country’s royal court late Tuesday, chanting, “This is not our war!” In Karak on Wednesday, about 200 of Kaseasbeh’s relatives rallied at the governor’s office, blocking roads with burning tires. In the capital, supporters of Kaseasbeh demonstrated in front of the prime minister’s office and the country’s royal court late Tuesday.
Muath’s father, Safi Kaseasbeh, and other tribal leaders issued a statement late Tuesday calling for Jordan’s immediate withdrawal from the U.S.-led coalition.Muath’s father, Safi Kaseasbeh, and other tribal leaders issued a statement late Tuesday calling for Jordan’s immediate withdrawal from the U.S.-led coalition.
The hostage crisis has given birth to an antiwar movement, with a Twitter hashtag and a series of Facebook groups and campaigns calling for Amman to pull out of the coalition and detailing the growing number of civilians caught in the bombings. The hostage crisis has given birth to an antiwar movement calling for Amman to pull out of the coalition and detailing the growing number of civilians caught in the bombings.
Judeh, the foreign minister, told CNN that his government had worked around the clock to free the pilot.Judeh, the foreign minister, told CNN that his government had worked around the clock to free the pilot.
Even if the swap takes place, the crisis has clearly weakened a key U.S. ally and coalition member. Because of Jordan’s proximity to neighboring Iraq and Syria, its air bases have been used to launch strikes by coalition warplanes. Even if the swap takes place, the crisis has clearly weakened a key U.S. allyr. Because of Jordan’s proximity to neighboring Iraq and Syria, its air bases have been used to launch strikes by coalition warplanes.
No matter how the hostage crisis is resolved, opposition to the war will remain at high levels in Jordan, some residents say.
“The war against the Islamic State was never our war to begin with,” said Mohammed Hussein, a shopkeeper in downtown Amman, as he attended a cash register.
“We are all Muath, and we are all against sending our sons to fight.”
Kaseasbeh, 26, was captured after his warplane crashed while participating in coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State. The militants claimed to have shot down his F-16, but the U.S. Central Command said the incident “was an aircraft crash and not the result of enemy action.”Kaseasbeh, 26, was captured after his warplane crashed while participating in coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State. The militants claimed to have shot down his F-16, but the U.S. Central Command said the incident “was an aircraft crash and not the result of enemy action.”
The pilot ejected from the plane and was seized by militants near the north-central Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold. Kaseasbeh was the first known military member of the coalition to be captured by the Islamic State since the airstrikes began last summer.The pilot ejected from the plane and was seized by militants near the north-central Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold. Kaseasbeh was the first known military member of the coalition to be captured by the Islamic State since the airstrikes began last summer.
Booth reported from Jerusalem. William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.Booth reported from Jerusalem. William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.