Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh surrounded by armed Islamic State militants (screenshot from video)
By Ryan Mauro:
The Islamic State (IS) has released a barbaric video showing that it has executed a captured Jordanian pilot by burning him alive. Jordanian crowds are demanding revenge and the government will very shortly execute the female Al-Qaeda terrorist whose release was demanded by IS. Four other convicted terrorists will also be killed.
Jordan was contemplating giving into IS’ demands for a prisoner exchange that would release Al-Qaeda terrorist Sajida al-Rishawi, who was convicted after trying to suicide bomb a wedding reception in Amman. Jordan demanded proof that its pilot was alive and threatened to execute her and all Islamic State prisoners if he was killed.
The video stands out as the most torturous to watch. Towards the end, the video shows the entire death of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh. He is seen standing in a metal cage and his clothes are visibly wet, he was seemingly doused with a flammable liquid. An Islamic State militant lights a track of gasoline which leads into Muath’s cage and then his body is engulfed in flames. As he burns to death, he screams in agony, until he falls dead, his body charred black.
IS videos usually censor out the worst parts of execution. For example, the newest beheading video censors out the act. Al-Qaeda has ordered an end to videotaped beheadings because of the repulsion it causes.
IS seems to have desired the shock factor, aware that audiences have become used to the stories of beheadings. Several tweets acknowledged that the burning would grab world attention. One IS supporter online made this point and even tweeted jokes about the murder:
IS justifies the burning by showing graphics of flames over pictures of burned bodies, claimed to be civilian casualties from airstrikes. Al-Kaseasbeh is receiving the same treatment he delivered, IS claims. The terrorist group’s supporters online are citing an Islamic verse stating that whoever burns people to death should himself be burnt to death.
IS may come to regret the atrocity, especially the video’s opening. It has footage of Jordanian King Abdullah II explaining that his government asked the air force pilots for volunteers to fight IS. Every single one volunteered. Pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh was not forced to fight IS. He saw their evil and made the decision to risk his life to fight it.
This is a powerful point; one that IS is intimidated by. IS hoped to scare away future volunteers. Instead, they granted al-Kaseasbeh immortality as a symbol of how evil they are and the heroes who risk everything to stop them.
The net effect will likely be more Arab and Muslim volunteers to fight IS. Crowds immediately formed in Amman demanding revenge; not capitulation. They chant, “With blood and self, we are sacrificing ourselves for Muath.”
Read more at Clarion Project
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