Jordan jails Muslim Brotherhood deputy leader over critical remarks

A Jordanian court has sentenced a deputy leader of the main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, to 18 months in prison for criticizing the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On Sunday, the State Security Court in the capital city of Amman found Zaki Bani Rsheid guilty of making statements “likely to damage relations between the kingdom and a foreign country.”

The court said Rsheid criticized the UAE’s blacklisting of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as more than 80 other groups.

He was arrested in November 2014 after posting comments on his Facebook page describing the UAE as “the prime godfather of terrorism,” that serves the United States and Israeli interests in the region.

Rsheid’s lawyer said he planned to appeal the decision.

The Jordanian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has wide grassroots support in the country, referred to the verdict as politically motivated.

Jordan has tightened its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in recent months, arresting two other members of the group.