Rogan: Jordan Handing Over a Key al-Qaeda Captive Could Immortalize the Islamic State

Jordan’s proposal to swap Sajida al-Rishawi, a female Iraqi al-Qaeda militant on death row, for an airman captured by the Islamic State could embolden sympathizers of the militant group, warns National Review Online contributor Tom Rogan.

Appearing on Fox News, Rogan explained that al-Rishawi, who played a prominent role in al-Qaeda in Iraq, the precursor to what eventually became the Islamic State, will used to further their global expansion.

“If they can bring her back to the Islamic State now, you can expect — in fact, you can guarantee — that she would take on a very, very important role — a central role — in the group’s propaganda,” Rogan said, pointing to recent events in Europe and Libya. Chief among his concerns was that her return to the Islamic State will be seen as a sign by its supporters that it is “an ordained organization” serving out God’s purpose.