Capture of pilot unites Jordanians in defence of country — commentators

AMMAN — The capture of Jordanian pilot Muath Kasasbeh by the Islamic State (IS) terror group has further united Jordanians despite some opposition to the country’s participation in the international coalition against the organisation. 

A recent poll by the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) showed that more than 80 per cent of citizens consider IS as the nation’s enemy. 

The sympathies and concerns Jordanians expressed on social media over the safety of Kasasbeh, who was captured by IS militants Wednesday in the eastern Syrian city of Raqqa after his jet went down, most probably due to a technical failure, impressed observers and even average citizens, according to analysts.

Several columnists tackled the sense of patriotism that the majority of Jordanians exhibited over the past five days and how the ordeal unified people of all walks of life.  

CSS chief Musa Shteiwi said the capture of Kasasbeh made Jordanians share the same feeling of distress and sympathy with the family of the pilot, and speak in one voice in support of the army and security agencies. 

“This is an indicator of the high level of patriotism among the people,” Shteiwi told The Jordan Times over the phone, pointing to his centre’s latest survey, which also found out that 90 per cent of people feel proud to be Jordanians.

The analyst added that regional turmoil has also made the country more unified than ever, adding that people differ on how to run the country but not on loyalty to the Kingdom and its leadership. 

“Those who place their bets on division among Jordanians either have ill-intentions or do not know the country very well,” he noted. 

Khaled Shoqran, head of Al Rai Centre for Studies, commented that it is not something new once a crisis surfaces that people stand by the side of their country. 

It is not only during hardships that people become closer to each other, but also whenever an achievement is made, he said. 

“A football game for the national team unifies all Jordanians,” he said, adding national unity in Jordan is becoming stronger and stronger.  

The remarks of Shteiwi and Shoqran were echoed by an article by Al Rai columnist Ahmad Hassan Zu’bi, who said that the past five days showed that no one “on earth” can question the sense of nationalism, and the unified stance and feelings Jordanians have towards their country. 

Zu’bi, a widely read columnist, urged people who differ on whether Jordan should have participated or not in the war against IS, also known as ISIS, or ISIL, to delay their arguments and focus on the safety of the pilot. 

Al Ghad columnist Ayman Safadi also wrote an article about the reactions of Jordanians to the incident, citing the currently popular hashtag on social media (#we are all Muath). 

The reaction of the majority of Jordanians shows that Jordanian society is strong and unified, Safadi wrote, adding that past experiences proved that crises and difficult moments historically lead Jordanians to align in defence of their country, and its safety and security.

Although some people oppose being part of the war on terror, the safety of Kasasbeh transcends all differences, commentators and posts on social media sites agreed. 

Since the capture of Kasasbeh, many social media users changed their profile picture to photos of the pilot with posts expressing solidarity with his family and praying for his return safe and sound. 

Ola Sawaei, wrote on her Facebook page she was proud of the reactions and the one stand Jordanians have shown in the past days, adding that the security and stability of the country remains the top priority for people. 

As there are people against the participation of Jordan in the war against terror, eight MPs of the 150-strong Lower House signed a memo on Sunday reiterating a previous call on the government to withdraw from the war, which they said could risk the stability of the Kingdom.