ISIS threatens to execute Jordanian hostage unless Iraqi prisoner released by Thursday sunset - audio message

2015/01/28
Man walks past television screens displaying a news program, about an Islamic State video showing Japanese captive Kenji Goto, on a street in Tokyo January 28, 2015. (Reuters/Yuya Shino)

The audio, which could not be immediately verified, was distributed on Twitter and was accompanied by Arabic text.



The man who presents himself as Kenji Goto Jogo says in the audio that he was told to deliver a message that if Sajida al-Rishawi is not delivered to the Turkish border by sunset on January 29 for an exchange, another hostage – a Jordanian pilot – will be killed.


The Japanese government is currently analyzing the voice recording, a spokesman for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office told Reuters.


The recording has yet to be independently verified, but Jordan has so far received no assurance that the pilot is safe. However, the kingdom has agreed to release al-Rishawi if Kasaesbeh's life is spared.


READ MORE: ISIS & Japan agree on hostage swap, Japanese journalist may be freed 'within hours'


On Tuesday, the Islamic State released a video of Kenji Goto Jogo saying that he had 24 hours to live unless Jordan released the convicted extremist woman on death row for her role in a 2005 suicide bombing.


Late Wednesday, the pilot's father met with Jordan's King Abdullah II, who assured him that "everything will be fine."


If the exchange goes ahead, it will set a precedent for negotiating with the Islamic State, which has not opted for prisoner exchanges in the past.


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