ammonnews.net

Ammon News - By Anas Damra

AMMONNEWS - Thousands of activists on Friday protested in downtown Amman calling for genuine reform efforts and blasted the continued attacks on activists in Jordan's pro-reform movement.

The Islamist movement, represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) organized the protest, in which thousands chanted slogans in protest of the attack on islamist activists in Mafraq last Friday and the attack and burning of the IAF branch there.

Protesters charged the security apparatus of enabling the attacks, and claimed that the attacks in Mafraq was an attempt to distance the Islamist movement from the tribal structure in governorates.

Last Friday, dozens were injured in clashes between pro-reform youth from the Islamist movement and counter protesters from Bani Hassan tribe and security forces.

The IAF branch in Mafraq was set ablaze and its contents were vandalized by counter protesters.

Several Islamist leaders and figures took part in the protest, including IAF Secretary General Hamzeh Mansour, head of the Political Bureau Zaki Bani Rsheid, head of the Muslim Brotherhood Political Bureau Rheil Gharaibeh, and MB's former leader Salem Falahat.

Activists from several youth movements also took part in the protest, including Hay Tafaileh in Amman and members of the Tafileh Technical University student movement, calling for nationalization of major state corporations, blasted privatization and corruption, and charged the incompetence of members of the Lower House of Parliament.

Protesters chanted slogans in support of Jordanian tribes and stressed the unity of the Jordanian people, "attempts to cause schisms between the Jordanian people will not work," they chanted.

The demonstration launched following Friday midday prayers from Al Husseini Mosque and ended near Al Nakhil Square in Ras El Ein, amidst heavy security and gendarmerie forces presence.