Top Muslim body calls for 'crucifixion' of ISIS jihadists

After a video was released showing the caged fighter pilot, Maaz al-Kassasbeh, dying engulfed in flames, the Cairo-based authority's head, Ahmed al-Tayib, expressed his "strong dismay at this cowardly act".

This "requires the punishment mentioned in the Koran for these corrupt oppressors who fight against God and his prophet: killing, crucifixion or chopping of the limbs."

"Islam forbids killing of the innocent human soul... It forbids mutilating the human soul by burning or in any other way even during wars against an enemy that attacks you," Tayib added in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's new King Salman also called the burning alive of a Jordanian fighter pilot "inhuman and contrary to Islam".

Salman condemned the "odious crime" which he said was against all values of humanity.

In a video posted online Tuesday, ISIS claimed to have killed Kassasbeh, 26, by burning him alive in a cage.

His plane went down in Syria in December.

Meanwhile, Jordanian state television said pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh was killed a month ago.

It said the captured airman had been killed by the group on January 3, before the jihadists offered to spare his life and free a Japanese journalist in return for the release of a female would-be suicide bomber on death row in Jordan.

The extremists had threatened to kill Kassasbeh unless Amman handed over Iraqi jihadist Sajida al-Rishawi. Jordan has executed Rishawi in retaliation.