Jordan authorities detain MP for smuggling Muslim Brotherhood documents

Authorities in Aqaba thwarted an attempt by several individuals, including a member of parliament, to smuggle documents and papers from a location linked to the –outlawed– Muslim Brotherhood group, a security source told the Jordan News Agency (Petra).

The source stated that the Aqaba attorney general ordered a search of the site Friday evening after suspicions arose of illegal activity and its use by the banned Muslim Brotherhood group.

Authorities, who had been monitoring the location, observed activity involving several individuals, including the lawmaker, prompting their intervention.

The individuals were intercepted leaving the site with documents hidden in black bags. The documents had been shredded inside the premises.

The individuals were taken to a security center for questioning. The lawmaker returned a short time later with two other people, attempting to re-enter the site.

They were denied entry and escorted to the security center, though the lawmaker was not detained at that point.

During the investigation, the lessors of the property were summoned. Two individuals, who identified themselves as members of the banned group, stated they owned the apartment and had leased it to the lawmaker for the group's activities.

Consequently, the lawmaker was summoned for questioning by judicial authorities as the tenant of the premises.

The lawmaker claimed in his confession that the location was an apartment leased for a political party he belongs to and that the party had authorized him to sign the lease agreement. However, official records showed that the party had not declared this location in its official submissions to the Independent Election Commission.

The party has two declared offices in Aqaba, neither of which is the newly discovered site.

The attorney general had ordered judicial authorities to search the location, which revealed signs of its exploitation by the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Authorities found confiscated items, numerous documents, papers, flags that violate the law, and clothing, badges, and headbands bearing the outlawed group's emblems.

The Aqaba attorney general has referred the case and all involved parties to the Public Prosecution in Amman. The Amman prosecution is currently handling two other cases related to the banned Muslim Brotherhood: one concerning seized items found in their headquarters and another regarding their properties.