Jordan sends message with arrests of MB leaders
The arrest of one of the most senior Muslim Brotherhood leaders in Jordan has plunged its relations with the ruling regime into a crisis which threatens to escalate.
![Protesters from the Islamic Action Front, carry a picture of the deputy overall leader in Amman A protester from the Islamic Action Front, carries a picture of the deputy overall leader of Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood Zaki Bani Rsheid, who was arrested by the Jordanian authorities last week, after the Friday prayer in Amman November 28, 2014. Rsheid was arrested by the Jordanian authorities last week after he criticized the United Arab Emirates for issuing a list of Islamist organization it considered terrorist groups according to local media. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNRE](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/12/RTR4FZ7N.jpg/RTR4FZ7N.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=_43k5nHA)
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.