ISIS has set a Thursday sunset deadline for Jordan to
release an Iraqi prisoner or face the death of a captured Jordanian air force
pilot, according to the latest threat purportedly issued by the Islamic State
group.
The audio
message, read in English by a voice the Japanese government said was likely
that of another hostage, Kenji Goto, was released online late Wednesday after
Jordan offered to hand over the al-Qaida-linked would-be suicide bomber to the
Islamic State group in exchange for Jordanian air force pilot Lt. Muath
al-Kaseasbeh.
Terrorist Iraqi Sajida al-Rishawi, center, Kenji Goto’s, left, and Jodanian air force pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh
Iraqi terrorist Sajida al-Rishawi with a bomb
The recording
says Jordan must present Sajida al-Rishawi, an Iraqi woman convicted of
involvement in deadly Amman hotel bombings in 2005, at the Turkish border by
sunset Thursday, in exchange for Goto’s life or the pilot would be killed. It
wasn’t clear what Goto’s fate would be if the woman wasn’t returned.
The message said
the deadline was sundown in Mosul, Iraq, the largest city held by the militant
group.
In Tokyo,
government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday the government was in
close communications with the Jordan government. He said Japan was doing its
utmost to free Goto, working with nations in the region, including Turkey,
Jordan and Israel.
“As the
situation is developing, I shouldn’t comment on details. But, Japan and Jordan
are dealing with the matter based on an extremely trusting relationship,” Suga
stated.
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