Justine Greening defends right of Jordan to execute prisoners after pilot's murder

 
Comments: Justine Greening (Picture: PA)
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Cabinet Minister Justine Greening today defended Jordan’s right to execute two prisoners in response to the murder of an air force pilot.

She said the UK did not support the death penalty but it was for Jordan to decide how to respond to the brutal killing, which saw the pilot burnt alive.

The International Development Secretary said Jordan had taken the decision as a country on the “front line” of the fight against Islamic State.

She made the comments after meeting King Abdullah of Jordan during a visit with Prince Charles in which she pledged extra cash to support Syrian refugees.

She said: “The death penalty isn’t something the UK supports. But clearly [Jordan is] on the front line of the challenge posed by Isis.

“In the end they are right to be part of the coalition that’s seeking to tackle Isis.”

She went on: “At the end of the day it’s a decision for them as a sovereign government to take, how they responded to this horrific execution.”

She added that events around the death of Lieutenant Moaz al-Kassasbeh had “pulled the country together”.

After footage of the 27-year-old’s horrific murder emerged, the Jordanian government promised retribution and hanged two Isis-linked prisoners.

Ms Greening said Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder with Jordan” as the country continued to play a pivotal role in the region.

In particular she pledged a further £100 million of assistance for the Syrian crisis.

More than 600,000 Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan since the start of the conflict and now make up almost 10 per cent of Jordan’s population - the Za’atari camp alone hosts 80,000 people.

The new UK support will help host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq deal with the extra pressures from new refugees fleeing to the countries.

The cabinet minister added: “This visit underlines Britain’s solidarity with Jordan as the country mourns the appalling murder of Lieutenant Moaz al-Kassasbeh - yet another example of the sacrifices being made by the Jordanian people.”

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