Jordan says ready to swap terror convict for pilot

By Khetam Malkawi - Jan 28,2015 - Last updated at Jan 28,2015

AMMAN – The government on Wednesday said that it would release a terror convict in return for the freedom of a Jordanian pilot taken hostage by the so-called Islamic State (IS), an official said.

Following a Cabinet meeting, Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said that the government offers a swap involving 1st Lt. Muath Kassasbeh and Sajida Rishawi, an Iraqi woman on the death row in the Kingdom for her involvement in Amman’s 2005 terror attacks.

The brief statement did not mention Japanese hostage Kenjo Goto, whom IS claimed Tuesday it would release in return for Rishawi’s freedom, or he and Kassasbeh would be executed with 24 hours, which almost finished by the time the government statement was issued.

He added that since the beginning, Jordan’s priority has been and is still to save Kassasbeh.

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