ISIS Japan Hostage News Update: Kenji Goto Friends Launch Online Petition Urging Jordan to Help
Friends of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto launched an online petition on Thursday urging Jordan to save him and 1st Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh, who are being held by Islamic State in Syria.
"We humbly request Your Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and the good people of the Kingdom of Jordan to do your utmost to help with saving the life of 1st Lt. Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh and Kenji Goto," said the petition on Change.org, which as of Thursday had over 7,500 signatures.
Goto, 47, a journalist, was held captive by ISIS militants when he went to Syria last October to try to negotiate for the release of fellow Japanese Haruna Yukawa.
The petition said the Japanese people and people of Islam are friends.
"The significance of the lives of these two men goes far beyond just themselves and their families, but across our world as humans unite to pray for their safety, and hope for the avoidance of unjust murder by their captives," it said.
The signatories pleaded with King Abdullah II, saying that "Your decision may mean the true solidarity of humans beyond any politics, and will save the two men from the immediate danger to their lives."
Meanwhile, a new audio message purportedly from Goto was uploaded on YouTube.
The voice in the video said, "I am Kenji Goto. This is a voice message I've been told to send to you. If Sajida al-Rishawi is not ready for exchange for my life at the Turkish border by Thursday sunset 29th of January Mosul (Iraq) time, the Jordanian pilot Mu'ath al-Kasaesbeh will be killed immediately," Reuters said.
In pleading for Goto's release, the online petitioners said he "is not just any Japanese man, but one who is loved by both Japan and Islamic people. His work as a journalist centers around giving the civilians and children of war a voice."
The petition quoted Goto as saying, "I want to be compassionate to people who are in the midst of hardship. They always have a message to tell. If I manage to find an outlet for their stories in the world, that might lead to a solution. Only then my job will be considered a success."
Besides the petition, people have also set up a Facebook page and a Twitter account for Goto. The "I Am Kenj" page on Facebook now has more than 38,000 supporters while the Twitter account has close to 5,000 followers.
