Kenji Goto is a Japanese journalist who is currently being held hostage by the Islamic State.
The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, released a video online Tuesday demanding that Jordan release a female suicide bomber within 24 hours in exchange for the release of Kenji Goto, a Japanese journalist, and First Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, a Jordanian pilot, who have both been held hostage by the militant group.
"I only have 24 hours left to live, and the pilot has even less,” says a voice in the video that is likely Goto’s.
Sajida al-Rishawi, the ISIS-affiliated Iraqi militant, has been held in a Jordanian prison on death row for her involvement in a suicide bombing that killed 60 people in Jordan in 2005.
The video is yet to be confirmed as authentic by authorities, but SITE Intelligence, the group through which the Islamic State has frequently released its threat videos and demands, says that the video shares many similarities to previous videos that include Goto.
Though Japan may be hopeful for the release of Goto in light of this new scenario, details on the options that Japan and Jordan have are still unclear, including whether ISIS will only release one hostage or both in exchange for al-Rishawi. In the case that only one may be released, it is also uncertain what options Japan has to secure the release of Goto, as Jordan would most likely request the release of Jordanian national al-Kaseasbeh if it does choose to meet ISIS’ demands.
The United States openly condemned the trading of captives with extremist groups, calling it the same as paying ransom.
"I hope we can all firmly work hard and join hands to cooperate, and for the two countries to cooperate, in order for us to see the day when the Jordanian pilot and our Japanese national, Mr. Goto, can both safely return to their own countries with a smile on their faces,” said Yasuhide Nakayama, the deputy foreign minister of Japan. Nakayama traveled to Jordan last week to work with Jordan regarding the hostage situation.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly expressed that Japan will “never bow to terrorists.”
“We will continue to provide humanitarian support in our own way,” Abe said.
Previously, the militant group demanded that Japan give $200 million by Jan. 23 in exchange for the release of Goto and Haruna Yukawa, another Japanese hostage who was shown to have been killed in a video released on Saturday. Japan did not give in to the Islamic State’s financial demands.
al-Kaseasbeh was captured by the Islamic State in December when his plane crashed during a raid in Syria carried out by the U.S.-led coalition.
