The State Security Court in Jordan charged two Jordanian activists with terrorism for their participation in organising peaceful sit-ins to demand a reduction in fuel prices and the release of political prisoners.
The State Security Court prosecutor charged the former mayor of Maan, Majid Fawaz Al-Sharari, and a former member of the Teachers’ Union in Maan, Ayman Saqallah Al-Fanataseh, with charges of “undermining the government and inciting opposition under Article 149 of the Penal Code, as well as carrying out terrorist acts that harm the national and economic resources under Article 2 of the Law on Preventing Terrorism, illegal gathering, and threatening national and public security.
Al-Sharari and Al-Fanataseh denied all the charges against them, however, the State Security Court rejected all bail requests submitted by their defence teams.
The Jordanian authorities arrested Majed Al-Sharari on December 18, 2022 as he was leaving the truck strike against the increase in fuel prices and arrested Ayman Al-Fanataseh on January 7, 2023, while leaving the office of the Al-Sharari, where peaceful protest preparations were taking place.
Widespread protests against a government decision to raise fuel prices have been taking place in Jordan, while the government refuses to back down from its decision, despite the difficult economic crisis in the country.
