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Muslim Clerics Condemn Islamic State For Subverting The Faith In Torture And Murder Of Caged Pilot
King Abdullah II of Jordan on Wednesday vowed a “relentless” war against the Islamic State group on its own territory in response to a video published by the hard-line group showing captured Jordanian Air Force pilot Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh being burned alive in a cage.
Large crowds gathered close to the capital’s international airport to welcome home Abdullah, who cut short a visit to the United States after hearing of al-Kaseasbeh’s murder.
Jordan hanged two Iraqi jihadis — one a woman — on Wednesday and vowed to intensify military action against Islamic State.
“We are waging this war to protect our faith, our values and human principles, and our war for their sake will be relentless and will hit them in their own ground,” state television quoted the king as saying during a security meeting.
The fate of al-Kaseasbeh, a member of a prominent tribe that forms the backbone of support for the country’s Hashemite monarchy, has gripped Jordan for weeks.
Some Jordanians had criticized the king for embroiling them in the U.S.-led war, which they said would provoke a militant backlash.
But the brutality of the pilot’s killing has produced a wave of outrage and calls for revenge, prompting speculation that the kingdom may prepare ground troops to confront Islamic State militants.
While public support for the deployment of troops to Syria this time had been lacking, al-Kaseasbeh’s death has changed how people see the Islamic State group, according to political writer and columnist Labib Kamhawi. “Jordanians are so angry and would strongly support any action that leads to strong retaliation,” he said. “People want revenge.”
In a statement Wednesday, the king vowed a “severe” response, saying “the blood of martyr Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh will not be in vain.”
The pilot’s father, Safi al-Kaseasbeh, called for “very severe retaliation” against the jihadis.
Source: www.japantimes.co.jp