Middle East News
Jordan frees Salafist leader charged with inciting attacks
Dec 21, 2011, 17:31 GMT
Amman - Jordan's State Security Court (SSC) on Wednesday released on bail hardline Islamic leader Lukman Riyalat, who is on trial on charges of inciting attacks on policemen in April, judicial sources said.
Riyalat was among 105 ultra-religious Islamists, known as Salafists, who were arrested in mid-April on charges of stabbing scores of policemen with swords after the authorities broke up a rally in the city of Zarqa, 25 kilometres east of Amman.
At least 47 Salafists charged with taking part in clashes with police are still at large, judicial sources said.
The SSC has so far released 81 Salafists, apparently in response to demonstrations by their relatives.
The militants' lawyer, Musa Abdullah, said Wednesday that 24 Salafists, including three leaders, were still in detention.
According to the indictment sheet, all defendants are accused of 'plotting to carry out terrorist acts, inciting regional and sectarian dissentions and rioting.'
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