Jordan moves to toughen counter-terror laws, surveillance
- Jordan’s Cabinet approved amendments doubling minimum terror sentences and mandating post-prison surveillance
- Government Spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani stated the reforms target extremism, deterrence, and national cohesion
- The overhaul follows two deadly incidents: a Karak church shooting and an Amman attack that killed an officer
Jordan’s Cabinet has approved a major package of amendments to laws governing terrorism offenses, introducing harsher penalties and post-sentence restrictions following recent deadly extremist attacks in the Kingdom.
Announcing the decision, Minister of Government Communication and Government Spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Al-Momani stated that the Cabinet resolved to amend multiple statutes concerning terrorism cases.
The overhaul focuses on significantly increasing penalties against individuals convicted of committing, assisting, or inciting terror acts, alongside implementing stringent post-release administrative and security measures against convicted extremists once their sentences are served.
Al-Momani stressed that the measures are designed to “reinforce deterrence, combat terrorism and extremism, and firmly safeguard national security and societal peace.”
The legislative push arrives against the backdrop of heightened security concerns after Jordan was recently targeted by two separate terrorist attacks.
In southern Jordan, an armed assault targeted a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral gathering in the town of Hammoud in Karak, leaving casualties and sparking broad public condemnation.
Days later, an armed attack in the capital, Amman, resulted in the death of a Jordanian police officer on duty.
The twin incidents prompted an immediate state-level review of the country’s legal apparatus, driving the government to expedite harsher statutory penalties and tighter post-release oversight to dismantle extremist threats and prevent potential recidivism.
