Jordan Jails Nine Over Terrorism Case Linked to Muslim Brotherhood
A Jordanian court has sentenced nine individuals to prison on terrorism-related charges in a case tied to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, marking the latest phase in the kingdom’s crackdown on extremist activities.
According to the official Petra news agency, the court handed down sentences ranging from three to 15 years. The court issued the verdict after previously sentencing four other suspects in the same case to 20-year jail terms for possessing explosives, weapons, and ammunition.
Court Hands Down Varied Sentences
Petra reported that the court sentenced two of the defendants to 15 years of hard labour and another to seven and a half years for manufacturing missiles. The court also gave four others three years and four months of hard labour for actions “likely to disturb public order and endanger the country’s security and stability.” Additionally, the court sentenced two more defendants to three years and four months for related offences.
Background: Crackdown on the Brotherhood
In April 2025, Jordan’s intelligence agency announced it had arrested 16 suspects, claiming to have foiled plans targeting national security and seeking to “sow chaos and sabotage within the kingdom.” Following the arrests, the government announced a ban on the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities, accusing the group of manufacturing and stockpiling weapons and plotting to destabilize the country.
The Muslim Brotherhood was originally established in Jordan in 1945, becoming the nation’s largest Islamist movement. However, in 2020, Jordan’s top court ruled to dissolve the group after determining that it had failed to renew its licence under a 2014 law — a decision the Brotherhood rejected.
Political Wing Still Active
Despite its dissolution, the Brotherhood continued limited operations until the April ban. Its political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), remains Jordan’s main opposition party. In the 2024 parliamentary elections, the IAF secured 31 out of 138 seats, maintaining its influence in Jordanian politics even as authorities tighten restrictions on Islamist movements.
