Jordanians remember fallen pilot Muath Kasasbeh

AMMAN — Jordanians on Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the burning alive of Jordanian air force pilot Muath Kasasbeh by the Daesh terrorist group, with social networking sites users paying tribute to him and pledging not to forget that he died defending the homeland against terrorism.

On Facebook and Twitter, Jordanians said they take pride in "the hero Kasasbeh", whom they said is one of many heroes who died defending the country.

 “One year passed since the killing of the martyr of the nation. We did not and will not forget you. We take pride in you,” Asal (@QueenRose77) commented in a tweet.

Hanin Abu-Shamat (@HaninSh) had the same sentiment.

“May your soul rest in peace Muath. You only kneeled to worship God,” she tweeted.

On February 3, 2015, the Daesh terrorist group released a video showing a group of  its masked terrorists burning Kasasbeh alive in a cage. The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) issued a statement then saying the officer was killed on January 3, nine days after his F-16 crashed over Raqqa in northeast Syria. 

Abdullah Al Atiyat (@Jordan_lawyer) tweeted that Jordan continues to provide martyrs who die in the service of the country.

“You will continue to live in our hearts… Your memory is an honour, pride and dignity for all of us,” Maha Alfayez (@AlfayezMaha) wrote on Twitter.

On Facebook, Alaa Qatawneh wrote: “It is heartbreaking what happened to you Muath, but we will never ever forget you.”

Salem Abdullah, another Facebook user, wrote on his timeline: “Muath died defending this country honourably. We will remember him for what he stood for all the time.”

Jordan continues to play a major role in the anti-terror coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

Dozens of landmarks and facilities have been renamed by officials and governorate representatives to carry the name of Kasasbeh as way to honour his bravery.

In the village of Ai in Karak, the birthplace of the fallen pilot, streets and landmarks have been renamed “Muath Kasasbeh”.

Ai Secondary School for Boys, where the 27-year-old pilot studied, was similarly named after him.

Other governorates have also renamed landmarks in an effort to immortalise the pilot.

A main street in Karak near Mutah University that leads to the village of Ai now carries his name.

A new roundabout in Irbid on the intersection of Salt Street and Amman Street has also been labelled Muath Kasasbeh in the pilot’s honour.

Additionally, universities have renamed facilities and halls in honour of the pilot.

Moreover, the replica aeroplane near the University of Jordan’s engineering faculty now bears Kasasbeh’s name, in recognition of his efforts in protecting the country.

The Association of Banks in Jordan also launched a scholarship last year fund and named it after the pilot.