Jordanian Pilot Execution by ISIS

Paul Derengowski, ThM

In December 2014, Jordanian Air Force pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh was captured by ISIS forces near Raqqa, Syria. He was engaged in a bombing run against ISIS when his plane was shot down. Today, February 3, 2014, a video appeared on the Internet, which is shown below in its full, as well as shortened, version.

The video records the gruesome death of al-Kasasbeh, which probably occurred sometime in January of 2015. ISIS militants present a highly skilled video leading up to the pilot's execution by burning him alive in a cage.

There is one troubling aspect to the video, aside from the fact that watching a human being die in such a matter is just plaining sickening. That is the ease at which the pilot submits himself to his demise.

On his way to the cage, he calmly walks amid several ISIS soldiers who are either standing in formation or atop the rubble of supposed ruins created by Air Force jets like al-Kasasbeh's. It is propaganda at its finest with an almost too willing participant in al-Kasasbeh himself.

Regardless, the video is graphic, but quick. A majority of the full video is spent leading up to the pilot's death. Most of the commentary has been recorded in Arabic, with a sprinkling of English throughout. Therefore, be warned.

NB: PC users may use any browers to view the video, while Mac users should use Safari.

Full Version (22 minutes)

Edited Version/Execution Only (5 minutes)

"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists and wrong doers)."—Koran 2:193