ISIS: Burning of Jordanian Pilot Consistent with Islamic Law, History

The latest issue of ISIS’ magazine, Dabiq, devotes an article to defending the murder of a Jordanian pilot by burning him alive in a cage. Contrary to claims that such punishment is “un-Islamic,” ISIS lays out the case that it is in keeping with Islamic law.

When video of the murder of pilot Mouath al-Kasaesbeh was revealed earlier this month, commentators argued that such a punishment was contrary to Islamic beliefs. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria appeared on Jake Tapper’s show saying, “This has nothing to do with Islam, as you’ve pointed out, Jake, the burning of a body dead or alive is very un-Islamic.” Later, Zakaria would tell Don Lemon, “It doesn’t follow any precepts of Islam.” Similarly, the head of the Council on Amiercan-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a press conference in which he called it “unspeakable and anti-Islamic.”

The latest issue of Dabiq, ISIS’ glossy, English-language magazine, attempts to justify the killing on the basis of Islamic law and history. In a piece illustrated with gruesome photos of the murdered pilot, the unidentified author writes:

In burning the crusader pilot alive and burying him under a pile of debris, the Islamic State carried out a just form of retaliation for his involvement in the crusader bombing campaign which continues to result in the killing of countless Muslims who, as a result of these airstrikes, are burned alive and buried under mountains of debris.