Islamic State punishes cleric who objected to Jordan pilot's killing: Human rights group

Protesters hold up pictures of Jordan's King Abdullah and pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh as they chant slogans during a rally in Amman to show their loyalty to the King and against the Islamic State on Feb 5, 2015. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 
Protesters hold up pictures of Jordan's King Abdullah and pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh as they chant slogans during a rally in Amman to show their loyalty to the King and against the Islamic State on Feb 5, 2015. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - An Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) cleric who objected to the group's decision to burn to death a captive Jordanian pilot has been removed from his post and will be put on trial, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.

The cleric, a Saudi national, had voiced his objections during a meeting of an ISIS clerical body in the town of al-Bab in Aleppo province, said Rami Abdulrahman, who runs the Observatory.

The killing was been widely condemned by Muslim clerics. Even some Al-Qaeda-linked figures denounced it as un-Islamic.

A video released by ISIS militants on Tuesday showed the pilot, Muath al-Kasaesbeh, being burnt alive in a cage.

The Saudi cleric had said those responsible for the killing should face trial, the Observatory said. Abdulrahman, whose organisation gathers information via a network of sources on the ground, said the group may now kill the cleric.

ISIS posted a religious edict on Twitter, which ruled that it is permissible in Islam to burn an infidel to death. Muslim clerics have said it is forbidden to kill anyone that way.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.