AMMAN // A military court charged 146 hardline Islamists with plotting terrorist acts in Jordan after they clashed with police in Zarqa earlier this month.
The state security court also charged the Salafis, who espouse an austere form of Islam, with carrying out riots and instigating sedition, Musa Abdullat, one of four lawyers representing them, said on Sunday. They could face a maximum of 15 years in prison.
"Investigation began on Wednesday evening and it is still ongoing, but three other lawyers and I were banned from meeting with our clients," he said. "I was told I had to have a prior permission from the security state prosecutor when I attempted to visit them last week. I tried to get a permission on Monday but I wasn't allowed to see the state security prosecutor."
Mr Abdulla said he is representing 25 Salafis.
Police have arrested 170 Salafis after violence - in which 83 people were injured - erupted two Fridays ago during a rally of nearly 400 Salafi protesters in Zarqa.
Police said 23 were freed due to the lack of evidence against them. Col Mohamad Khatib, the police spokesman, said 20 others were still at large. A police investigation said the Salafis were armed with swords, bats, knives, daggers and iron bars.
Salafis have been protesting for several weeks, demanding the release of 300 prisoners held since the late 1990s and calling for implementing their rigid form of Islam.
smaayeh@thenational.ae
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Scorecard:
England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)
South Africa 361
England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
