IS wants release of its leader's sister
Sajida was involved in ’05 Amman hotel blasts
Tokyo, Jan. 25: In a fresh twist to the Islamic State’s terror activities, the militant group has now dropped all ransom demands. Instead, what it now wants is the release of one of its sisters who are now facing sentences in Jordan, IB Times reported,.
In the latest IS video that was received by hostage Kenji Goto’s family and the Japanese governement, the freelance reporter and one of the hostages held captive by the IS, is seen in a still image. He is holding the photo of the dead body of his fellow-prisoner, Haruna Yukawa, who was reportedly executed after the deadline for the ransom ended.
Goto’s voice can be heard in the video, in which he blames Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the death of Yukawa. “You have seen the photo of my cellmate Haruna slaughtered in the land of the Islamic Caliphate. You were warned. You were given a deadline and my captors acted upon words.”
“Abe, you killed Haruna. You did not take the threat of my captors seriously and you did not act within 72 hours,’ Goto accused.
He assures his ‘beloved wife’, Rico, that he loves her and that he misses their two daughters. He appeals to his wife that she shouldn't give up and that she should ensure Abe doesn't send him to the same fate as Yukawa.
“They no longer want money. So, you don't need to worry about funding terrorists. They are just demanding the release of their imprisoned sister Sajida al-Rishawi.”
Sajida al-Rishawi has been jailed in Jordon for her alleged involvement in a series of 2005 hotel bombings in Amman during the Iraq war.
Believed to be the sister of a top commander under a former leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, Rishawi’s belt of explosives had failed to detonate, according to NBC.
IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi reportedly served as a lieutenant under Zarqawi. The demand comes in the wake of Japanese officials visiting Jordan, where Rishawi is held captive. Goto reiterated as soon as Rishawi is freed, he would be too. “Me for her,” Goto said.
The United States strongly condemns the brutal murder of Japanese citizen Haruna Yukawa by the terrorist group.We renew our call for the immediate release of Kenji Goto and all other remaining hostages — BARACK OBAMA, US President