DUBAI // There was anger and sadness as UAE residents and dignitaries paid respects to the Jordanian fighter pilot burnt to death this week by ISIL extremists, a man now regarded as a hero and a martyr.
A book of condolence was opened at the Jordanian Social Club in Oud Metha, where not only Maaz Al Kassasbeh’s countrymen mourned, but where people of all nationalities grieved for a victim of one of the most depraved acts to darken an already grim picture in Syria and Iraq.
Al Kassasbeh, 26, made headlines this week when video was released by ISIL showing the young pilot, dressed in orange and caged, being burnt alive as masked ISIL militants looked on.
Mohammed Bani Amer was born in the UAE but is a Jordanian. He said the death hit his family as if Al Kassasbeh were one of their own.
“My mother has been taken to hospital with hypertension as she was crying so much when she heard the news,” he said.
“The video was extremely distressing to see. She said when she saw that, it was as if it were one of her own sons and couldn’t bear to watch it.
“This has touched the hearts of everybody, not only Jordanians.”
He said the video was like “watching animals” but the pilot displayed “fearless” bravery as he gave his life in the fight against terrorism. “He was a really strong man,” said Mr Bani Amer. “Each and every Jordanian home in the UAE is very sad.”
Fellow Jordanian Ali Alnsour said outrage had gripped his community and the world must respond to the killing of Al Kassasbeh.
“Everyone is feeling angry,” he said. “It’s touched us all. Today we’ve come here to show we aren’t weak, that we are standing up against this terrorism.
“The men who did this are psychopathic. How can people do this to other humans? The whole world must stand up and do something.”
Nahar Al Rawashdeh, chairman of the Jordanian Social Club, said the grief was shared “not only for the pilot’s family but for all the Arab countries and Jordanian citizens”.
He said the gathering, which was expected to have drawn about 2,000 people, was “the right place for people to express their anger and emotions with their brothers in the community. It’s helpful to release all the stress and anger against such unacceptable behaviour.”
Omar Harahsheh, an engineer, said Al Kassasbeh’s life was given not only for his country but for a wider cause. He said: “He sacrificed his life for Jordan but, actually, not just Jordan, but for humanity. “This man was fighting terrorism, the enemy of all humanity. He was very young to die but I’m sure this was a sacrifice for humanity.”
Samir Qtishat said the actions of ISIL were completely un-Islamic. “This was horrific,” he said.
Jordanian consul general Sa’ed Radaideh said the killing was a huge shock “for all Jordanians and for the whole Muslim community and humans all over the world”.
He said: “We are in deep sorrow. We are here to show solidarity, firstly to the martyr’s family.”
He, like many others, reiterated the need to express that the actions of ISIL bore no relation to true Islam.
“The extremists don’t relate to Islam or anything human,” he said. “There is a lot of anger, not only from Jordanians but the coalition, friends and brothers.”
On Wednesday, King Abdullah of Jordan pledged a relentless war against ISIL after he cut short a visit to the United States and flew home to direct Jordan’s response to the murder. Two Al Qaeda in Iraq militants, Sajida Al Rishawi and Ziad Al Karboul, were hanged in retaliation.
mswan@thenational.ae
