Relations between Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood and the government are on edge following the Nov. 20 arrest of one of the movement’s most senior leaders, Zaki Bani Irsheid. The group’s repeated demands to set Bani Irsheid free have been rejected and the State Security Court has refused to grant him bail.
On Nov. 28, Islamists and tribal movements organized a demonstration in downtown Amman, following Friday prayers, during which participants held pictures of Bani Irsheid and accused the government of carrying out politically motivated arrests of Islamist activists. Since the beginning of November, tens of Islamists belonging to the Engineers’ Association have been arrested. Some were charged under the controversial Terrorism Prevention Law and if convicted on charges of possessing firearms, explosives and conspiracy, they stand to receive hefty prison sentences.
