Jordan agrees to exchange for hostage release

(Baonghean.vn) - Jordan announced that it is ready to hand over an Iraqi female suicide fighter to IS in exchange for a Jordanian pilot being held by IS fighters.

Kasasbeh's supporters have called on the government to agree to a prisoner swap. Photo: Reuters

The offer came as IS's 24-hour deadline was about to pass, under which it would execute pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto if its demands were not met.

The ultimatum was issued in a video released by IS on Tuesday, shortly after IS said it had killed a Japanese man, Haruna Yukawa. IS had demanded a $200 million ransom.

Sajida al-Rishawi is a female al-Qaeda fighter sentenced to death in Jordan for her role in a 2005 terrorist attack that killed 60 people.

"Jordan is ready to release prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi if its pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh is released and his life is guaranteed," Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said on Jordanian state television.

However, he did not mention Kenji Goto - the Japanese hostage.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the new IS threats in the video as "despicable" and said Japan was working with Jordan to secure the release of the 'hostages.

In footage released on Tuesday, a voice believed to be Mr Goto says he has “only 24 hours to live” and Jordanian hostage Moaz al-Kasasbeh “even less” unless Jordan releases Sajida al-Rishawi. There is no mention of a ransom.

Kenji Goto is a famous freelance journalist and filmmaker. Photo: Reuters

Kenji Goto, 47, is a well-known Japanese freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker who went to Syria last October to try to rescue his colleague Haruna Yukawa.

Mr Goto's mother has publicly appealed to the Prime Minister to help her son.

“Please save my son,” she said. “Kenji has very little time left.”

According to analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent, this agreement was made by IS, whether official or not, it also puts the parties involved in a dilemma.

For the Jordanian authorities, who were given 24 hours to make the decision, they were in a difficult position. IS wanted to free a convicted al-Qaeda terrorist in Iraq. To release a terrorist would mean giving in to terrorism.

At the same time, however, many Jordanians do not support their country's role in the US-led airstrikes on IS positions. They want their pilot taken hostage to return home safely and believe Jordan should stay out of the fight against IS.

A video emerged on Sunday showing Mr Goto holding an image of Mr Yukawa's body part.

On Tuesday night, hundreds of relatives and supporters of pilot Kasasbeh gathered outside the Jordanian Prime Minister's office in Amman, demanding that IS's demands be met.

Kasasbeh's father, Safi al-Kasasbeh, told the press: "Moaz's safety means Jordan's stability, and if Moaz dies, it means Jordan will be in chaos."

Huong Giang

(According to BBC)