Jordan's Queen Rania joins march for murdered pilot

Kassasbeh was captured by IS in Dec after his F-16 crashed in Syria while on a mission against the extremist group


Afp February 06, 2015
Jordan's Queen Rania (C) offers her condolences to the family of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh, at their family home of Muath in the city of Karak February 5, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

AMMAN: Queen Rania joined thousands of people who turned out after midday prayers in Jordan's capital Friday to express their solidarity with the pilot murdered by the Islamic State (IS) group.

Wearing a black suit and a red-and-white checked keffiyeh over her shoulders, she mixed with the crowd as it marched from the central Al Husseini mosque to Palm Park, about one kilometres (half a mile) away.

The queen, wife of King Abdullah II, did not address the rally, where marchers chanted "We are all Maaz," a reference to pilot Maaz al Kassasbeh, and "We are all Jordan."

Placards were also held aloft that read: "Yes to punishment. Yes to the eradication of terrorism."

On Thursday, the royal couple visited Kassasbeh's family - which has urged the government to "destroy" the jihadists - to pay their condolences.

Kassasbeh was captured by IS in December after his F-16 crashed in Syria while on a mission for the US-led coalition against the extremist group.

His death has sparked grief and deep anger in Jordan.

In November, Palestinian-born Queen Rania urged support for US-led air strikes against IS, saying the future of the Middle East and Islam was at stake.

"Our silence is the greatest gift" for IS, which has seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria, she told a media summit in Abu Dhabi. "We are complicit in their success."

She said the fight went beyond the battleground and was between moderates and extremists worldwide.

"Winning also depends on our ability to conquer the philosophical battleground as well. Because at the heart of this assault is an ideology," she said.

COMMENTS (1)

JSM | 9 years ago | Reply

why are Pakistanis quiet over the burning of a muslim pilot by muslims? Was he less muslim than other muslims?

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ