SSC holds second session in 'sedition case'

Jordan

Published: 2021-06-22 12:36

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 14:08


SSC holds second session in 'sedition case'
SSC holds second session in 'sedition case'

Tuesday, the two defendants, Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan, arrived at the State Security Court (SSC) to attend the second session in the ‘sedition case.’

In its first session, which was held Monday, June 21, and lasted around four hours, the SSC heard the testimonies of five witnesses of the Public Prosecution, two of whom testified in-person.

The court read the indictment against the two defendants, and then proceeded to listen to the witnesses of the Public Prosecution. The two defendants plead not guilty to the charges issued against them.

June 13, the Public Prosecutor of the SSC, Judge Hazem Abdel Salam Al-Majali, ratified the indictment issued by the SSC's prosecutor in the case related to Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan.

Both defendants have been detained for their involvement in a 'sedition' case in March.

In April, the competent authorities released 16 retired military personnel close to Prince Hamzah bin al-Hussein, along with Awadallah and King Abdullah II's half-brother Sharif al-Hassan, for attempting to 'destabilize Jordan's security and stability.'

April 14, the State Security Prosecutor officially received an investigative case related to 'destabilizing' the security and stability of Jordan.

As a result of the case, a series of arrests were made involving the former director of the Royal Hashemite Court Bassem Awadallah and Al-Sharif Hassan Bin Zaid, along with 14 other individuals who were not identified.

The defendants were charged with the felony of incitement to oppose the political regime in the Kingdom, contrary to the provisions of Article 149/1 of the Penal Code No. 16 of 1960 and its amendments, and in accordance with Article 76 of the same law, and the felony of carrying out acts that endanger the safety of society.

Notably, Sharif Hassan was accused of the possession of narcotic substances with the intent of abuse.