Jordan sentences man to 4 years in prison for online posting of will

A court in Jordan has sentenced Jordanian citizen Mohammad Al-Tawil to four years in prison for sharing online the last will and testament of two other Jordanians who carried out a resistance operation against Israeli forces, Quds News Network has reported.

The State Security Court charged him with endangering the Hashemite Kingdom by exposing it to hostile actions and failing to report a “terrorist plot”. The charges were based on a Facebook post in which he shared the document of Amer Qawwas and Hossam Abu Ghazaleh.

The verdict came as a shock to many Jordanians, especially after widespread public and parliamentary calls for Al-Tawil’s release. His arrest was part of a broader crackdown on activists supporting Palestinian resistance. He was one of the many detainees arrested following the resistance operation, which came in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Jordanian intelligence interrogated him along with 20 other activists, questioning their connections to the victims. While most detainees were later released, Al-Tawil was sent to trial and sentenced.

This case is not the only instance of harsh sentencing against those accused of supporting Palestinian resistance. On 19 February, the same court sentenced two Jordanian brothers, Abdullah and Walid Al-Khawalda, to eight years in prison. They were accused of attempting to carry out a resistance operation near the border with occupied Palestine.

Meanwhile, Jordanian security forces continue to detain activists, some of whom are held in solitary confinement without clear charges. Many of these detainees participated in protests against the genocide in Gaza and Jordan’s decision to open a land corridor to aid Israel. The crackdown began as public protests grew against Israeli violations in Gaza. Over time, arrests expanded to include students, activists and Islamic movement leaders across the kingdom.

In early March, local sources reported a new wave of security raids. The Jordanian authorities arrested more than 34 members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. These raids typically took place after midnight, and those arrested were placed in solitary confinement without access to their families or lawyers. The Brotherhood has strongly condemned these arrests.

Muath Al-Khawalda, the group’s spokesman, criticised the government’s actions in a recent interview. He stated that Jordan faces major challenges, yet instead of addressing pressing issues, the government is choosing to suppress public freedoms. He emphasised that many of the arrested activists had been working to support Gaza during Israel’s ongoing military offensive. He called for the immediate release of all detainees arrested for their pro-Gaza stance.

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