Jordan inquires about detainees in Syria

Jordanian information Minister Nasser Joudeh said the question of Jordanian detainees in Syria is not a new matter. "We have been following this matter through diplomatic channels for years. But the recent campaign on this issue was due to the media highlighting the matter."

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Jordanian daily al-Dostour, the Jordanian minister added "there are Jordanian detainees in Syria, whose number is increasing. We need a Syrian explanation in this regard. Where are those detainees, under what charges they were arrested, can their families visit them, and how were they tried?"

Replying to a question on what had been said by Jordanian official statements in that there are officials among the Jordanian detainees and Syrian statements that there are among the detainees "members of the Jordanian security," the Jordanian minister said "I have not heard of members of the Jordanian security members being among the detainees. I have only heard that there is a Syrian denial of the existence of Jordanian officials among the detainees."