Jordan jails four for 20 years over plans to 'target national security'
The four people were convicted of the "possession of explosives, weapons and ammunition with the intent to use them illegally and commit acts that would disrupt public order and threaten social safety and security, in violation of the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Law", Jordan's State Security Court said in a statement.
It comes weeks after the kingdom foiled an armed plot against the kingdom's securityby members of the Muslim Brotherhood. The court statement did not specify whether the four people jailed were members of the group, but said the ruling was part of a "broader case involving 16 defendants".
The four were arrested in 2023 after the authorities seized weapons and explosives, it added.
Jordan's intelligence service announced on April 15 that it had foiled a plot against the kingdom and arrested 16 members of the Muslim Brotherhood on suspicion of manufacturing rockets and possessing explosives. Last week, authorities banned any political activities related to the Muslim Brotherhood and closed its offices.
The group said it had "no link" to those arrested and that the people involved in the plot carried out "individual actions, within the context of supporting the resistance".
The group operates in Jordan under the banner of the Islamic Action Front, a religious party that has played a significant role in organising demonstrations in support of Gaza. The party made gains in Jordan's parliamentary elections in September last year, adding 24 seats to the eight it already held, raising its share of seats to one fifth of the assembly.
Official TV reported that Ibrahim Mohammad, one of the 16 arrested, was a "primary" instigator of the plot. He is said to have come up with the plan of making missiles and arranged for two members to visit Lebanon and receive training.
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Sharjah 24
40 minutes ago
- Sharjah 24
Arab Parliament for the Child to debate ‘Cultural Identity'
High-level support highlights importance This session holds exceptional significance as it is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and with the follow-up of His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League. This reflects the level of high-level support the Parliament initiative receives and underscores that the future of the Arab child is an integral part of a broader, comprehensive project. Identity as the foundation of awareness From this standpoint, several members of the Arab Parliament for the Child have expressed the importance of this topic and their readiness to discuss it under the dome of their parliament. They believe that cultural identity is not merely a topic to be debated, but the very essence upon which the Arab child's awareness is built. It serves as the gateway to their belonging to their homeland and a source of strength amid the challenges of globalisation and digital openness. Omani parliament head: Identity is rooted in values, not symbols Ilyas bin Awadh Al-Ma'ni, President of the Arab Parliament for the Child from the Sultanate of Oman, believes that true preparation for such a session lies in delving deep into the concept of cultural identity, researching its sources, and examining how it is influenced by the digital world and language challenges. He is convinced that identity is not just a set of symbols, but deep-rooted in language, values, and traditions. Ilyas is keen on reviewing successful Arab experiences in this field, consulting educators and intellectuals, and even speaking with children from his local community to understand how connected or distant they are from their language and identity. He points to the vital role that the family, school, and media play in embedding this identity. He adds that integrating heritage and the arts into curricula, and organising national activities and competitions, are effective ways to strengthen a child's pride in their identity. As he puts it, 'Preserving identity is not just an intellectual priority, but a civilisational safeguard for nations.' Jordanian member: Identity must be lived, not just studied Rabeea Ibrahim Abu Rumman, a member of the Arab Parliament for the Child from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, states that preparing for a topic like this is not limited to reading briefing papers. Instead, it requires genuine engagement with the lived reality of the Arab child amidst the challenges of social media and media openness. She explains that her planned intervention will focus on the voice of the Arab child, what belonging means to them, and what the family, school, and media can do to help them remain connected to their language and heritage. She emphasises the urgent need for purposeful and well-targeted Arabic media content for children and calls for cultural networking between Arab children through programmes and initiatives that promote the exchange of shared heritage and values. She concludes, 'Identity is not a luxury, but a safeguard that protects the child from dissolution, and a fundamental right of every child to know their origins, speak their language, and live their values.' Palestinian member: Identity must be protected from a young age Mai Jalal Abdulaziz, a member of the Arab Parliament for the Child from the State of Palestine, shared her perspective with a deep philosophical and human touch. She sees cultural identity not just as a topic for discussion, but as a vital project to protect Arab childhood from confusion and loss. She explains that a child is like 'soft clay' – shaped from an early age – and that the concepts and values instilled in them remain for life. If their identity is not safeguarded early on, they become fragile in the face of globalisation. Mai is preparing through in-depth research into the components of identity: language, heritage, historical symbols, customs, and traditions. She compares these foundational elements with the daily influences children face through screens. She says she is currently analysing children's behaviour on social media platforms, their use of the Arabic language, and whether their everyday cultural practices reflect authenticity or are dissolving into foreign influences. Proposals for action and digital awareness She also proposes practical steps, such as conducting simple field surveys to measure children's connection to their identity. Her planned parliamentary address will cover comprehensive themes, from language to digital media, passing through arts, diaspora, and artificial intelligence. Mai stresses: 'The Arab child today needs someone to listen to them, not to speak on their behalf… Identity is not taught—it is lived and experienced.' Mai affirms that the second session of the Arab Children's Parliament in Sharjah will undoubtedly be a moment of awareness and belonging—a pan-Arab platform that listens to the voices of future generations and, through them, draws the features of the Arab child's cultural identity in a changing world where values struggle to survive, and children search for their roots in an accelerating age. Iraqi member: Arabic is the anchor of collective memory Aws Mohsen Ali, a member of the Arab Parliament for the Child from the Republic of Iraq, adds that his focus on the Arabic language is not only driven by his belief that it is the carrier of identity, but also because it forms the core around which the collective memory of the Arab nations is built. Without it, thought is scattered, shared sensibility fades, and the Arab character loses its clarity in young generations. Therefore, he believes schools and educational curricula must form the first line of defence for the Arabic language. Curricula should be developed in a modern style that helps children love their language and leads them to explore its richness rather than be alienated by it. Pride in Arab civilisation through education Aws emphasises the importance of integrating the vocabulary of Arab civilisation into classroom instruction—not just as a historical narrative, but as a living legacy that must translate into daily behaviour and national pride. He believes that the Arab child needs to be told clearly: 'You belong to a great nation that has significantly contributed to humanity in fields like science, medicine, astronomy, language, and literature.' This message instils confidence and belonging—something fleeting social media content or widespread foreign media cannot provide. Identity as a right and a responsibility As a member of the Child Rights Committee, Aws believes that the right to cultural identity must be prioritised among the fundamental rights of the child. He notes that identity can be erased not only through wars or occupation but also through neglect, indifference, and blind imitation of cultures that don't resemble ours. This leads to values being consumed as commodities, and belonging reduced to mere slogans. He explains that the Arab Children's Parliament is a space where this awareness, vision, and responsibility are expressed. For him, preparing for the upcoming session is not merely about drafting a speech or writing a position paper—it is an emotional and intellectual commitment to the belief that Arab cultural identity is not just a topic for debate, but a matter of existence and dignity. A heartfelt message to the Arab world Aws concludes with a heartfelt plea: 'From this parliamentary platform, I raise my voice on behalf of millions of Arab children to say: We are not asking to be copies of others—we want to be ourselves… with our language, our culture, our history, and our emotions. We want to grow up in an open world, yes—but with our feet firmly planted in our land, our identity, and our authenticity.' With these sincere and profound words, Aws—and all the members of the Parliament—embody the new consciousness carried by the Arab child today. They enter the second session hall in Sharjah not merely as seekers of knowledge, but as builders of identity and guardians of the cultural essence in a world that has no place for those who do not know themselves.
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Writers group accuses New York Times of being 'accomplice to the genocide in Gaza'
A new dossier released by a coalition of media workers has accused The New York Times of systemic pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian bias, and alleged that nearly two dozen of its top journalists, editors and executives have extensive ties to pro-Israel lobbying groups. "The New York Times is an accomplice to the genocide in Gaza, serving as a mouthpiece for American imperialism and shaping elite consensus around foreign policy," a statement from the group Writers Against the War on Gaza (Wawog) reads. Like several mainstream news outlets, the NYT has come under intense scrutiny over its reporting of the war on Gaza, with several human rights activists and analysts accusing the publication of providing cover for Israeli war crimes. The dossier, released on Wednesday, argues that the NYT's coverage could be explained by the extensive material, financial and ideological connections between several current and former employees at the paper and the Israeli state or the army. The dossier also outlined other levels of ideological and material ties, including relationships with the pro-Israel lobbying groups and think tanks. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The dossier alleged that news editors at the NYT had ordered reporters to avoid so-called "inflammatory terms" - including "genocide", "ethnic cleansing", and "occupied territory", and even to avoid saying "Palestine". "Our dossier so far covers mostly material ties to occupation and apartheid, but we also include and discuss ideological ties, which we've updated the dossier to reflect," a spokesperson for Wawog told Middle East Eye. The group said its findings, extracted from the archives of Mondoweiss and The Electronic Intifada, as well as through interviews with Palestinian journalists, demonstrate "how the Times' vaunted code of conduct amounts to a racist double standard". 'New York War Crimes ' Wawog, a group made up of writers and creatives, emerged in the weeks following Israel's bombardment of Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. The group has routinely held protests outside and at times in the lobby of the NYT's building in the borough of Manhattan. Western media enabling Gaza genocide and rewriting history, say experts Read More » The group has routinely referred to the paper as "The New York War Crimes" as a means to communicate the NYT's complicity in war crimes in Gaza. More than 58,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel's war on Gaza, which several countries, as well as many international rights groups and experts, now qualify as an act of genocide. In Wednesday's dossier, Wawog describes the deep entanglements between the NYT and Israel as fuelling the paper's biased coverage. Wawog said the omission of the journalists' connections to Israel - be it through personal or immediate family ties - in the reporter profiles on the NYC website contradicted the basic tenets of journalistic ethics. It said that the NYT "would offer bullhorns to people with clear allegiances to the Zionist project demonstrates its commitment to and support of Israel's fantasy of annihilation". Media analysts and human rights groups have repeatedly accused mainstream media of contributing to both the erasure and distortion of Israel's war crimes in Gaza. Several observers have argued that the reporting on Israel's war on Gaza, as well as the student movement for Palestine in the US, hasn't merely been inaccurate but has ventured close to journalistic malpractice. 'Palestinians and allies have been silenced and marginalised in the media for decades' - Joyce Ajlouny, American Friends Service Committee Western media in particular have come under fire for obfuscating in their headlines and for the explicit use of the passive voice in narrating the murder of Palestinians. Advocates' concerns over the use of language and terminology have also been backed up by data. An Intercept study published in January 2024 found that the NYT, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times' reporting of Israel's war on Gaza demonstrated consistent bias against Palestinians, offered disproportionate coverage of antisemitism in the US and downplayed anti-Muslim racism after the events of 7 October 2023. Likewise, in October 2024, several journalists from the BBC and CNN told Al Jazeera's Listening Post that their newsrooms routinely failed to hold Israeli officials to account. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the journalists accused senior editorial staff of attempting to minimise Israeli excesses in news coverage. Whereas the Wawog dossier details several members of staff who have either served in the Israeli army or have had children serve in the army, it also includes those who have consistently produced what Wawog describes as lies and justifications for war crimes. War on Gaza: How western media favours Israel on Instagram Read More » In January, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organisation that advocates for peace, cancelled a planned advertisement in the paper after it refused to allow it to refer to Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. "The refusal of The New York Times to run paid digital ads that call for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza is an outrageous attempt to sidestep the truth," said Joyce Ajlouny, general secretary for the AFSC. "Palestinians and allies have been silenced and marginalised in the media for decades, as these institutions choose silence over accountability. It is only by challenging this reality that we can hope to forge a path toward a more just and equitable world," Ajlouny said. A spokesperson for the NYT rejected the arguments raised in the dossier, telling MEE that the report was "a vile campaign aimed at intimidating journalists and media executives because of fair-minded reporting and news coverage. "Rather than criticize the specifics of our journalism, this campaign is choosing to make personal attacks and innuendo based on a person's faith or ties to a group or country, all of which are public knowledge, and some of which are inaccurate. All to try to discredit our reporting. A group of writers should know better."
The National
2 days ago
- The National
US senators introduce bill to designate Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organisation
A group of US senators has introduced a bill to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on Wednesday the Muslim Brotherhood was an "acute threat" to US national security interests and accused the organisation of funding Hamas. "They are committed to the overthrow and destruction of America and other non-Islamist governments across the world," he said. "American allies in the Middle East and Europe have already labelled the Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, and the United States should do the same and do so expeditiously.' The movement was founded in Egypt in the 1920s and its members originally believed violence was permissible to achieve political change, though its main branch ultimately renounced this belief in the 1970s. The Brotherhood rose to power in Egypt following the Arab uprisings of 2011 but was outlawed only a few years later after mass protests and the intervention of the military. Several countries have designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Russia. "The Muslim Brotherhood preaches death to Israel, the United States, and other western governments," Senator Tom Cotton said in support of the bill. "These are the statements of a terrorist group and they should be labelled as such.' A similar bill was introduced last month in the House of Representatives. Introducing a bill in both chambers at around the same time is often aimed at expediting the legislative process. The legislation comes after France began a crackdown on groups linked to the Brotherhood after an Interior Ministry report mapped out political Islam's influence on French and European civil society. Jordan banned the organisation in April after an alleged armed plot against the kingdom. This is the fifth time Mr Cruz has attempted to have the group designated a terrorist organisation. But with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress, and with animosity towards Hamas high as Israel's war in Gaza continues, the sixth time could be the charm.
