Parliament condemns statements by MP over pilot case

AMMAN — Eighty deputies of the 150-member House signed during a meeting on Sunday a statement condemning an unnamed colleague for statements seen as against Jordan regarding the file of the Islamic State (IS)-detained pilot Muath Kasasbeh. 

The statement did not directly refer to the MP, who was accused of harming Jordan’s image in remarks to an Arab satellite channel, warning that the “downing” of the F-16 on December 24
and the ensuing hostage crisis was part of a plot to drag Jordan into a ground war against IS.

The anonymous deputy is reportedly Hind Al Fayez, who, in fact, spoke during the meeting, repeating the same remarks.

She was quoted in local reports as stressing that the military is Jordan’s “only and most important” institution that can defend the country, warning against pushing it into a ground battle that would weaken it.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted House Speaker Atef Tarawneh as saying that the lawmakers and the state are on the same page regarding Kasasbeh’s case.

Meanwhile, the House endorsed a statement by head of the Jordan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Ali Bani Ata, condemning IS’ killing of the two Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto.