Security court releases two political activists

AMMAN — The State Security Court (SSC) on Monday released two political activists detained during separate protests earlier this month.

The court moved to release Mohammad Balawi, a member of a popular protest movement group due to a lack of evidence in an alleged lèse-majesté case.

The court also released veteran Muslim Brotherhood member Adnan Abu Arqub on bail after detaining him for 15 days in an Amman prison.

The opening trial for the Islamist, who faces up to seven years in prison for “undermining the state” with statements made in a recent anti-government protest, is slated for May 26.

Also on Monday, the court moved to postpone the sentencing of 11 citizens in an alleged Al Qaeda terror plot to May 28.

In another case, the SSC charged Jordanian Medhat Marar with “membership in an illegal organisation” and the distribution of “propaganda deemed harmful to the state” for his alleged affiliation with the banned Islamic Liberation Party (Hizb Al Tahrir).

Marar pleaded not guilty to the charges, denying ties to the party.

The court announced that it would present its evidence against the Amman resident in a session on May 26.

The defendant was arrested at Queen Alia International Airport earlier this month upon his return from a regional party conference in Sudan.

Jordan has outlawed the regional political movement, which stands for the reinstatement of an Islamic caliphate, due to their calls for the ouster of current Arab governments and monarchies.