Murder of Jordanian pilot will backfire on ISIS, former Iraqi diplomat says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The video of Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh being burned alive in a cage by the terror group ISIS is causing outrage around the world, including in the Middle East.
Former Iraqi diplomat, Ambassador Feisal Amin Rasoul al-Istrabadi, told FoxNews.com the brutal murder will backfire on ISIS.
“This was a murder in the most heinous and brutal manner. No religion, civilized order can tolerate … ISIL is threat to us in the region … and indeed throughout the world,” said al-Istrabadi, founding director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prominent Muslim religious leaders are sharing their outrage against ISIS. One of Egypt’s top Muslim scholars, Ahmed al-Tayeb. with the Al-Azhar Mosque said in a statement, “Islam prohibits the taking of an innocent life.”
"There needs to be a massive response to roll them [ISIS] back – they have to be confronted and defeated.”
“This message comes from the most important academic and legal center in the Sunni world. I think that will resonate,” said al-Istrabadi. “The Arab world, Islamic world, and civilized world will be united in their revulsion and repugnancy of this.”
Regional experts believe ISIS’ strategy in killing the pilot will cause Arab outrage to grow against the terror group and their brutal tactics.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“People who were on the fence, those who might have said ‘it's Iraq’s fight or Syria’s fight, but not our fight’ now realize this is everyone’s fight,” said al-Istrabadi.
Arab countries, including United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have condemned the murder, with Jordan vowing to retaliate against ISIS. The Jordanians so far have executed two jihadists, including failed suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi.
Al-Istrabadi, who served as Iraq’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, believes beyond Jordan’s actions Wednesday, there will be a coordinated coalition response against the terrorists.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He warned, though, that the pilot’s death should serve as a wakeup call. “I think at some point the international community has to look at this and really take seriously the notion that this is not going to require some low-level response … there needs to be a massive response to roll them [ISIS] back – they have to be confronted and defeated.”