3 Islamists charged in Jordan following protests

A Jordanian court has charged three members of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) with inciting unrest against the regime. Those charged included Emad Abu Hattab, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Shura Council. The Public Prosecutor has ordered a 15-day remand for the three IAF members. The three men, who took part in protests over the past two weeks, will be detained in the Reform and Rehabilitation Centre. More than 100 people have been arrested in connection to the protests, including one woman. The prosecution has charged those arrested with unlawful assembly, inciting unrest, damaging public property, committing acts of terrorism using flammable materials, conspiracy to commit acts leading to harm the authorities, undermining the regime, and incitement to undermine the regime. The public prosecution has also released 12 people arrested in the events on bail after referring them to State Security Court. They were charged with unlawful assembly and inciting unrest. Chairman of the party’s Shura Council Ali Abu Sukkar has condemned the arrest of Emad Abu Hattab, who is a member of the IAF First Amman Chapter. In a statement today, he holds the regime responsible for what he called its “provocative steps” and “unfair measure” which he said will have “great popular repercussions” and “raise the ceiling” of the recent events, as well as their “duration and expansion across the homeland.” He said that the arrests will not deter the Islamist movement and the popular agitation from continuing with popular activities. He added that the objectives of the protests will aim at reforming the regime. The party leader described the arrest of Abu Hattab as “unjustified,” and part of an “extensive” arrests campaign conducted by security forces against political activists and members of the Jordanian popular youth movement. Abu Sukkar claimed that more than 200 people were arrested, including teenagers, students and 54 members of the Islamist movement. He also claimed that many prisoners were tortured.