A Jordanian state security court has sentenced three men to death by hanging following their roles in a fatal attack on a church last month. The tribunal issued the verdict on Sunday, convicting the men of several terrorism-related offenses stemming from the October 23 incident, which occurred at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hammoud, located in Jordan’s Karak Governorate.
During the attack, which took place while a funeral procession was underway, nine people were killed and 25 others were wounded. According to the Jordanian military, the three men—two of whom are brothers and the third a relative by marriage—fled the scene immediately following the shooting. Security forces tracked them to an abandoned house in the governorate and apprehended them on October 26 after a clash in which the suspects refused to surrender.
The court found the men guilty of multiple charges, including carrying out terrorist attacks resulting in death, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, conspiring to commit armed acts, and promoting the ideology of a terrorist organization. Additionally, one of the perpetrators was convicted of providing funds to finance terrorist activities, in violation of Jordan’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Law No. 20 of 2021. Under Jordanian law, the verdict is subject to an automatic appeal before the court of cassation.
Key facts
- Nine people were killed and 25 others sustained injuries during the October 23 attack.
- The incident occurred at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hammoud village, Karak Governorate.
- The court sentenced the three men to death by hanging for their involvement.
- Suspects include two brothers and their relative by marriage, who were arrested on October 26.
- The verdict is subject to an automatic appeal under Jordanian legal procedures.
Why it matters
King Abdullah II publicly stated that those responsible for the attack would face the “harshest penalties” while offering his condolences to the bereaved families. Following the incident, the King ordered a comprehensive review of the kingdom's security procedures for responding to terrorist attacks.
Background
The Karak Governorate is home to a significant portion of Jordan’s Christian minority, a community that comprises approximately 300,000 of the nation’s 11.5 million residents.
Source: Times of India, Al Jazeera
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