Tensions over the fate of Daesh-captive Jordanian Muath Kasasbeh mounted in Jordan's capital Amman Wednesday night, as demonstrators gathered at King Abdullah's palace and the pilot's family met with officials to discuss developing negotiations for his release.
Hours later, Daesh released a new audio recording threatening to "immediately" kill the Jordanian hostage if Iraqi prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi was not presented at the Turkish border by sunset on Thursday.
Claiming to be the voice of Japanese captive Kengi Goto, the audio recording was disseminated across Daesh-affiliated sites but could not be immediately verified.
Both the audio message and the Kasaseh family's meeting came on the heels of a 24-hour deadline issued by Daesh on Tuesday that threatened to execute both Kasasbeh and Goto if Jordan failed to hand over Rishawi, who is facing the death penalty in Jordan for an attempted suicide bombing in Amman in 2005. The new recording has extended the original ultimatum but did not specify whether the female bomber's release would ensure the freedom of either captive.
During a several-hours visit with King Abdullah, Kasasbeh's family reportedly discussed unfolding negotiations between Daesh militants and the Jordanian government for the release of 26-year-old Kasasbeh, who was taken captive by Daesh in Syria last December when his plane went down near the group's de-facto capital in Raqqa during operations with the US-led airstrike coalition against them.
While no news has officially been annouced about the state of negotiations, Kasasbeh's father, Safi al-Kasasbeh, told reporters the family was told their son's case was "still positive."
"The king told me that Muath is like his son and God willing everything will be fine," he said in a statement to the press following the meeting.
Meanwhile, rumors of release, execution and relocations of the hostages and Rishawi flooded social media sites across the Middle East.
Arabic media channels reported earlier today that Jordanian authorities had already released Rishawi to Iraqi tribal leaders, but the statement was prompted refuted by Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who said Jordan would not agree to exchange the Iraqi prisoner without confirmation of the pilot's safety. Nasser added that the government had requested documentation of Kasasbeh's condition, but had not yet recieved it.
Daesh supporters took to Twitter asking for suggestions on how the group should kill the two captives, and Arabic websites related to the militants said Daesh would only release Goto for Rishawi, while Kasasbeh would be left alive but remain detained.
Jordanian Salafi leader Abu Sayaf reportedly issued a letter to Daesh asking for the Jordanian pilot's safe return. And as Jordan announced its willingness to give up Rishawi Thursday afternoon, Goto's release was not mentioned.
Thursday's demonstration in front of King Abdullah's palace follows a series of similar protests across the country. Around 500 Jordanians gathered near Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour's residence Wednesday night. Ahead of Thursday's announcement that Rishawi could be exchanged, protesters urged the Jordanian goverment to meet Daesh's demands and voiced frustration with the negotiation process so far.
Ahmad, who did not want his last name published, said Jordanians had been angry with Jordan's handling of the hostage situation, and giving Rishawi up for Goto could mean militants could keep the pilot indefinitely. He said members of Kasasbeh's family had been trying to facilitate a Rishawi exchange since his capture last December, but the Jordanian goverment was slow to respond. Now, with Goto's fate suspended on the deal as well, Ahmad said Jordan had lost its bargaining power.
"Now Daesh suggests that they give the Japanese hostage to us instead of Muath," said the 28-year-old from Amman. "Before [Goto], we had the power to negotiate Sajida for Muath, and we don't have that anymore."
By: Alisa Reznick
