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Jordan’s State Security Rejects Request to Summon ‘Sedition’ Witnesses

Security forces guard the State Security Court during a session (AP)
Security forces guard the State Security Court during a session (AP)
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Jordan’s State Security Rejects Request to Summon ‘Sedition’ Witnesses

Security forces guard the State Security Court during a session (AP)
Security forces guard the State Security Court during a session (AP)

Jordan's State Security Court has rejected the defense attorneys’ request to summon 25 witnesses in the sedition case, in which former Royal Court chief Bassem Awadallah and Sherif Hassan Zaid are taken to trial.

The list of defense witnesses in the case, linked to former Crown Prince Hamzah, included the prince himself, Princes Hachem and Ali, Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh, and Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi, along with twenty others. It also includes a British communications expert, who was part of major cases, including the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The court adjourned on Thursday and state-owned news agency, Petra, published a brief of the session which was closed to media.

The Public Prosecution demanded in its concluding argument the highest punishment for the accused, while the defense attorneys asked the court for time to prepare a closing argument.

Defense lawyer Mohammad Afif said the military court's decision not to take testimony from a list of potential defense witnesses - also including the prime minister and other princes - suggested the verdict could be swift.

Speaking to reporters after the court session, Afif explained that the decision was justified that summoning some witnesses may affect the course of justice.

Afif revealed that during the upcoming session on Tuesday, pleadings will be presented, and the verdict will be pronounced, expecting it to be before the judicial recess.

He stressed that the case will be referred to the Court of Cassation if the verdict is not in favor of the defendants.

The court sessions of the 'sedition' case started on June 21, 70 days after the arrest of the accused, Awadallah and Zaid.

They are facing charges of undermining the security and stability of the country and undermining the political establishment.

Prior to the trial, local media published audio leaks of the defendants with Prince Hamzah, including messages exchanged with Awadallah.

The audio messages led to unveiling a plan targeting the security of Jordan by backing protests against the poor economic and social conditions aiming to create chaos.

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Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
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Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)

The Kremlin said on Friday it wanted the Syrian government to restore constitutional order in the Aleppo region as soon as possible after an insurgent offensive there that captured territory for the first time in years.
Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, intervened militarily on Assad's side against insurgents in 2015 in its biggest foray in the Middle East since the Soviet Union's collapse, and maintains an airbase and naval facility in Syria.
Opposition led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group launched an incursion on Wednesday into a dozen towns and villages in the northwestern province of Aleppo, which is controlled by Assad's forces.
It was the first such territorial advance since March 2020 when Russia and Türkiye, which supports the opposition, agreed to a ceasefire that led to the halting of military action in Syria's last major opposition stronghold in the northwest.
Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed an opposition-held area near the border with Türkiye on Thursday to try to push back the insurgents, Syrian army and opposition sources said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control.
"As for the situation around Aleppo, it is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and we are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," said Peskov.
Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had "nothing to say" on the matter.