Jordan Begins Trial of 8 on Charges of 'Joining' Hizbullah, Acts of 'Terrorism'

A Jordanian military court began on Monday the trial of eight suspects on charges of joining Hizbullah and trying to commit "terrorist acts" in the kingdom.

According to Jordan's Petra News Agency, the military commission at the State Security court held a session to begin the trial of eight people accused of belonging to Hizbullah.

The Commission decided to adjourn the meeting to the end of this month to begin listening to the 15 witnesses of the public prosecution.

The defendants face charges of belonging "to an unlawful society (Hizbullah) with the intention of commiting terrorist acts in the Kingdom of Jordan and against Jordanian interests abroad, in addition to the possession of automatic weapons with the intention of using them illegally to carry out terrorist acts.”

They were also accused of "manufacturing explosive materials with the intention of using them to execute terrorist acts.”

The defendants are also accused of acts that would have "exposed the Kingdom to the risk of hostile acts and disturb its ties with a foreign country, as well as providing money for committing a terrorist act and recruiting and training people to join armed groups."

Earlier in August, Jordanian military prosecutors charged eight suspects, including a Syrian fugitive, with plotting to attack U.S. soldiers and Israel's embassy in the kingdom and recruiting people to join Hizbullah.

These accusations were made on August 25 by the same court and Hizbullah is yet to comment on these accusations.

Z.A.

Y.R.