Jordan: death sentences against Cell group members for terrorism

The Jordanian state security court on Monday issued death penalty sentences, alleviated to imprisonment sentences for 15 years against three Jordanians who were convicted of being members in a group known as "cells " that was preparing to carry out "terrorist acts," in Jordan.

The court sentenced to 15 year imprisonment other three Jordanians and found not guilty other seven accused persons including one Egyptian.

The court sentenced to death the three Jordanians Bilal Kkreisat, Jafaar Awad and Jamal Maghribi, but the chairman of the military court decided to alleviate the sentences to 15 year imprisonment with hard labor. Other three Jordanians were sentenced to 15- year imprisonment with labor. The other seven, including the Egyptian Wasef Saleh, were found not guilty.

The trial of the group who were known as "cells " started on July 10, 2001 five months after detaining members of the groups, before they were able, according to the accusation to carry out attacks against Israeli and Western targets in Jordan. The military attorney general accused the 13 men, then, of planning to commit "terrorist acts" and of having large amounts of explosives.

The group's lawyer Samih Khreis said he will appeal the sentence. He said the sentences "are very hard" adding that there is no justification for such sentences "and therefore we will appeal at the court of cassation."