ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Islamist movement in Jordan held a protest on Friday aimed to express renunciation of Jordan's policy of arresting activists and restricting freedoms.

The Populist Assembly for Reform, the Islamist movement, and youth movements, issued a statement and distributed brochures calling on citizens to join a protest following Friday midday prayer under the banner of "Rejecting Military Rule."

The demonstration, which launched from Marka's Hamzah Mosque towards the State Security Court (SSC), called for constitutional reform, and rejection of "subjecting civilians to military rule through what is know as the State Security Court," the protesters said, referring to Jordan's military tribunal which tries anti-state cases, including terrorism, state economic crimes, and drug-related charges.

Pro-reform activists in Jordan have been denouncing the trial of reform activists by the SSC, many of whom faced "anti-regime" charges since the launch of reform protests in the kingdom over two years ago.

The protest demanded the release of "political detainees," including two Islamist activists from the Islamist movement who were arrested two weeks ago following a debate on Jordan's policy in blocking unlicensed news website held in downtown Amman, and two other Islamist activists arrested during protests.

The protesters, inspired by Egyptian pro-Mursi supporters' slogans, called for rejecting the "rules of military forces and its grip on political life." They called for putting an end to security forces' domination over state institutions and annulling the State Security Court.

Despite the protest's call for political and economic reforms and release of detainees, the demonstration stirred the anger of some Marka residents who attempted to attack the demonstrators.

Security forces meanwhile worked to maintain order and prevent clashes between protesters and residents.