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.
Bani Irsheid was arrested for publishing an article on his Facebook page that condemned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its decision to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. He was charged of harming Jordan’s relations with a foreign state. The movement responded by saying that the charge was political in nature and that it infringed on Bani Irsheid’s constitutional right of free speech. Lawyers, including former President of the Lawyers’ Association Saleh al-Armouti, said the government was waging a campaign of political arrests of activists and that Bani Irsheid’s detention and possible trial constitute a violation of his constitutional rights.
The government has rejected claims that Bani Irsheid’s arrest was part of a campaign against the Brotherhood. On Dec. 3, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour met three leaders of the political arm of the movement, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), and assured them that the government was not considering disbanding the movement and that Bani Irsheid’s case is a matter for the courts. Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said, after the meeting, that Bani Irsheid is being charged as an individual and not as part of a political party.
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