Should Jordan have executed Al Rishawi? - UAE Jordanians weigh in

Dubai: With the recent killing of the Jordanian pilot Muath Al Kasaesbeh, Jordanians in the UAE spoke about their concerns about Daesh.

The Jordanian pilot, who was recently shown locked in a cage and set ablaze in a video released by Daesh, was captured when his plane crashed in Syria while on a bombing mission against the terrorist group in December.

Faisal Al Khalidi, a 23-year-old Jordanian living in the UAE, commends Jordan’s decision to join the coalition against Daesh and believes that it is a great opportunity for his nation to set an example for the rest of the world.

“Without a doubt, I think that it is not only time for the rest of the Arab world to play a larger role, but for the entire coalition to bring an end to Daesh,” he said. “I don’t think the world should sit idly by and watch execution after execution.”

In response to Al Kaseasbeh’s murder, Iraqi nationals Sajida Al Rishawi, female would-be bomber, and Ziyad Karboli, Al Qaida operative, were hanged. When asked, Al Khalidi said negotiations should not take place with “terrorists”.

“I for one believe that nobody should negotiate with terrorists, and by doing so you are legitimising an organisation as despicable as Daesh,” he said. “I feel that Jordan’s reaction was a little unjust, and that it hasn’t done anything to solve the real problem facing us.”

Al Khalidi believes that the coalition has not had a serious effect on Daesh’s control in Iraq and Syria.

“Some have been saying the coalition has trouble maintaining its unity, and the results of yesterday’s incident will likely tell us who stays and who doesn’t,” he said.

Another Jordanian resident, Hamad Yousuf, 50, believes that Jordan’s involvement in fighting Daesh was inevitable since the terrorist group are on the border and have been threatening to attack.

He believes, however, that the Jordanian government should not have executed the jailed terrorists. “I don’t think they should have retaliated and acted like Daesh”.

Despite the death of the Jordanian pilot, Yousuf believes that the Arab governments will not act.

Yousuf said he does not know if countries fighting Daesh have succeeded in diminishing their power because there is no transparency in the media. He believes, however, that people should not fear of speaking about Daesh because that means their propaganda worked.

Shahd Barghouty, a 24-year-old Jordanian, said, “I think Jordan had to get involved anyway because if it didn’t, another adjacent countries would. Since Syria, Iraq and Palestine cannot, Jordan had to do something about it. I think all Arab countries that can fight should fight. This is an issue of nations and future generations. It is not about Muath, it is about the military of Jordan and the security of the kingdom.”

Shahd believes that it is time for a unity against terrorism to avoid the suffering of the next generations and ensure the safety and security and peace of the remaining countries in the region.

“Jordan should get involved anyway because Daesh is on its borders. It is self- defence,” she said.

Another Jordanian resident, Sameera Al Khatib, believes that the Jordanian government should not have executed the convicts. “I think they should have kept them and tried to get more information from them to fight Daesh.

— Maria Botros is a trainee at Gulf News