Freedom for Ambassador Aitan

Jordan’s Ambassador to Libya Fawaz Aitan spent his second day in captivity on Wednesday. The envoy was kidnapped on Tuesday in Tripoli by an anonymous group that is yet to make its demands known.

Unconfirmed reports speak of an Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamist group demanding the release of one of its Libyan members spending a life prison sentence for plotting to bomb Queen Alia International Airport in 2004.

But the government said it has no information on the identity of the kidnappers, nor does it know their demands.

Nothing justifies the kidnapping of Aitan, whose mission is to strengthen Jordanian-Libyan ties and serve the interests of the two peoples.

If the group which is holding Aitan claims to be Islamist, it should be known that Arab and Islamic cultures not only forbid harming or kidnapping messengers, who are called ambassadors in the modern-day world, they also call on according them all due care to carry out their missions.

As to the Libyan national serving a life sentence in Jordan, he was found guilty of plotting terror attacks against civilians, and as such he should serve his full term, as justice requires.

The Jordanian government is known for its refusal to negotiate with terrorist groups and it will certainly not set a precedent now that would open the door to similar acts.

No person or group should be allowed or encouraged to follow this path to achieve political or other goals.

The kidnappers have thus far caused a good deal of harm, and are capable of causing more. But they have to know that they will not be able to change Jordan’s anti-terror efforts or stand.

The Kingdom, which suffered because of terrorist attacks perpetrated on its soil in 2005, will surely continue to fight any groups targeting it and its people, wherever they are.

There is no doubt that Jordan will do all it can to free its ambassador who will hopefully not be harmed during this ordeal.