Sweden extremist given lifetime imprisonment for horrific murder of Jordanian airline pilot
In a landmark trial, a Swedish court has convicted Ahmad Krayem, also known as Osama Krayem, a Swedish national, for his involvement in the brutal 2015 murder of Jordanian pilot Mu’ath Al-Kaseasbeh.
Krayem, a former Daesh (ISIS) fighter, was found guilty of directly participating in the act that led to the pilot’s death. The pilot was captured after his F-16 jet crashed near Raqqa in Syria and was subsequently killed by being forced into a burning cage by members of the Daesh militant group.
The thorough investigation presented solid evidence, and Krayem’s silence throughout the hearings did not significantly impact the ruling. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment in July 2025 on charges including serious war crimes and terrorist crimes committed in Syria.
Krayem had previously been convicted for involvement in fatal Daesh attacks in France and Belgium. This trial marked an additional prosecution specifically related to the war crimes in Syria and the high-profile killing of the Jordanian pilot. The court also awarded compensation to the pilot’s family.
The defendant allowed himself to be filmed during the execution and was at the site, uniformed and armed. Krayem guarded the victim before and during the execution and took him to the cage where he was set alight while still alive.
The family’s lawyer, Mikael Westerlund, lamented in court that Krayem showed no empathy or remorse for his actions. The court awarded compensation to the parents and siblings of the Jordanian pilot, amounting to 80,000 Swedish kronor ($8,200) each.
Jawdat al-Kassasbeh, the pilot’s brother, traveled from Jordan to testify in the trial. He expressed gratitude to Sweden and the Swedish judiciary for their efforts in the case. Jawdat al-Kassasbeh, a civil party to the case, stated that the verdict somewhat comforts the family.
France agreed to hand Krayem over to Sweden for nine months, the time needed for the investigation and trial. The pilot's brother also stated that this decision is a significant step towards achieving justice. Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed Momani stated that Jordanians will always remember the horrible crime.
Krayem must be returned to France by December 27 at the latest, as decided by the Stockholm court. The exact date of the murder could not be determined, but the investigation identified the location.
This case is notable as the victim was the first known foreign military pilot taken captive and killed by Daesh after the international coalition began airstrikes against the group in 2014. The defendant's actions contributed significantly to the death of the victim, making him a perpetrator. The Swedish court tried a person for the killing that sparked outrage worldwide.
- The Swedish court sentenced Ahmad Krayem, a former Daesh fighter, to life imprisonment in July 2025, not only for his involvement in the 2015 murder of Jordanian pilot Mu’ath Al-Kaseasbeh but also for his previous convictions related to Daesh attacks in France and Belgium.
- France and Sweden have collaborated in the prosecution of Krayem, with France agreeing to hand him over to Sweden for nine months, allowing the Swedish court to try him for war crimes committed in Syria and his high-profile killing of the Jordanian pilot.
- This trial in Sweden, which resulted in the conviction of Krayem for his war crimes and subsequent life imprisonment, has a significant connection to France, Belgium, and the Middle East, as well as being a part of the intricate web of politics, crime, and justice at a global level.
