Jordan - Salafi Jihadist Escalate Protests, Call for Prisoners' Release

By Qusai Ja'roun

AMMONNEWS - The Salafi Jihadist movement in Jordan on Friday repeated their demands for the government to release prisoners who are followers of the movement, giving the government an ultimatum until Monday before escalating their measures.

The demands came during a demonstration organized by the movement following Friday prayers in front of Irbid's Grand Mosque, amidst heavy security presence.

A number of Salafi leaders said in speeches that the political reforms in Jordan are "insufficient," and called for an establishment of an Islamic state governed by Islamic law.

Brief clashes took place during the demonstration when counter protestors hailed verbal attacks at the Salafi movement, but were soon contained.

A number of protestors blamed security agencies for the clashes, charging that the counter protestors were brought in an effort to break up the demonstration.

The speakers called on the government to release followers of the movement from Jordanian prisons, threatening to stage a "massive protest" on Tuesday at the Interior Ministry Circle if the prisoners are not released by Monday.

Protestors chanted slogans denouncing "oppressive measures" to silence freedoms, and called on the Jordanian government to close the Israeli embassy in Amman and stop all forms of normalization with the "Zionist" state, according to their statements.

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