Best-selling author Coelho calls for solidarity with Jordanian pilot

AMMAN — Renowned Brazilian author Paulo Coelho took to Twitter on Sunday to express his support for Jordanian pilot Muath Kasasbeh, who is held captive by the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. 

"I wonder where are the millions who tweeted #JeSuisCharlie. Why don't they tweet #IamMuath?" Coelho asked.

The best-selling author, best known for the novel "The Alchemist", was referring to the widespread slogan “Je sui Charlie,” shared by social media users around the world after two gunmen attacked the offices of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo in December and killed 10 of its staff members, in addition to two police officers.

Kasasbeh was captured by IS in December after his F-16 jet crashed in northern Syria.

Coelho's tweet was also received with appreciation and support by his followers, including those from Jordan.

"‏@paulocoelho u r amazing. the purpose of muath was ending daesh (isis)... saving innocent life," tweeted Waleed Hadidi (‏@waleed83092647) in reply to the author, who is the all-time bestselling Portuguese language author with 165 million copies of his novels sold worldwide, according to his official biography.

Esraa Ayoush (‏@EsraaAyoush) said such tweets will spread the word about Kasasbeh's situation.

"@paulocoelho let's make the world know Muath! #WeAreAllMuath #IamMuath," she wrote. 

By Monday evening, Coelho's tweet had been retweeted 610 times and marked as a favourite tweet by 380 users.