Jordan hands down 20-year sentences in brotherhood-linked security case

Jordan’s State Security Court on Wednesday sentenced four individuals to 20 years in prison after they were found guilty of possessing weapons and engaging in activities deemed a threat to national security. 

The convictions stem from a broader investigation involving members of the recently banned Muslim Brotherhood.

According to authorities, the arrests were part of a crackdown that began on April 15, when 16 individuals were detained. Officials alleged the group was involved in plotting to undermine public safety, spread chaos, and carry out acts of sabotage within the country.

In the days following the arrests, Jordan officially banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and shut down its offices, citing alleged involvement in destabilizing activities, including the manufacture and storage of rockets and explosives.

In its ruling, the court found the four convicted individuals guilty of possessing explosives, weapons, and ammunition with the intent of illegal use, and of committing acts that threatened public order and national security. The court also imposed an unspecified financial penalty.

The official statement did not clarify whether the sentenced individuals were affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been under increasing scrutiny from the Jordanian government in recent years.

The case marks a significant escalation in Jordan’s efforts to curb what it describes as subversive activity, as regional governments take a firmer stance against political Islamist movements.