IS issues new threat to kill Jordanian pilot
January 29, 2015
The message, which was posted on YouTube early on Thursday, was being analyzed by the Japanese government, a spokesman for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office said.
"I am Kenji Goto. This is a voice message I've been told to send to you. If Sajida al-Rishawi is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday sunset - 29th of January Mosul time - the Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh will be killed immediately," the voice in the recording said.
Jordan willing to exchange
On Wednesday, however, Jordan said that it was willing to carry out the hostage swap, which IS had demanded in exchange for the release of a Japanese journalist and the Jordanian pilot.
"Jordan is ready to release the Iraqi prisoner, Sajida al-Rishawi, if the Jordanian pilot, Muath al-Kaseasbeh, is freed unharmed," the country's official Petra news agency reported.
Wednesday's announcement did not mention Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, however, who is also being held by the group.
Al-Rishawi was sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 terrorist attack by al Qaeda, targeting hotels in Amman. Sixty people were killed. She is the sister of Samir Atruss al-Rishawi, a late top lieutenant of Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al Qaeda leader in Iraq who was killed in 2006.
The militants have reportedly already beheaded one Japanese hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
ksb/gsw (Reuters, AFP)