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November 27, 2005

Jordan: Islamists Hurl Insults At Judges During Hearing

In what sounded like an entertaining half hour, al-Qaeda suspects accused of plotting a major chemical blast in Jordan tried to disrupt a hearing by shouting insults and vowing to wage a holy war, states the Scotsman.

Thirteen alleged members of al-Qaeda were appearing in court to face charges related to a foiled plot from 2004. The plan had been to detonate a chemical bomb at the HQ of the General Intelligence Dept. in Amman, the capital. Jordanian officials state that the effect of this explosion, if carried out, would have been to create a cloud of toxic chemicals over the city, which would have killed thousands.

The charge-sheet relates to 13 individuals, but only nine of these are in custody. One of the absent accused is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. As well as being charged with the bomb plot, other charges involve possessing and manufacturing explosives, affiliation with a banned group , which has been identified as Kata'eb al-Tawhid, whose name means in Arabic "Battalions of Monotheism." They could get the death penalty if convicted.

None of the defendants deigned to enter pleas, so the military court entered pleas of innocence as a matter of formality.

Hassan al-Smeik shouted out: "Terrorism is a badge of honour on our chests until Judgment Day. In the name of God, we're pursuing the path of Jihad until we uproot you, exterminate your state until the rule of the king vanishes."

"We follow the steps of the Prophet, but we were accused of being criminals and terrorists and that we kill innocent people".

"But these are lies; You're the criminals because you changed God's doctrine and you're ruling to please your masters, the Americans."

While al-Smeik was performing his oratory a chorus from the other defendants gave the refrain: "Allah is our Lord; you have none; America is your God."

This performance hardly gives the impression that the case is being brought against innocent individuals. Hopefully there will be more entertaining displays from the defendants in the upcoming trial.

This is not the first time that this group has performed in such a manner in court. They ran a dress rehearsal for this event earlier this year, according to news 24.com from 5th May.

An angry al-Jayousi took off his slippers and hurled it at the chief judge, Colonel Fawaz Buqour. "Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi will chop off your heads and stuff it up your mouths, you God's enemies," he then growled, pointing his finger at the three-man tribunal.

Court officials said that al-Jayousi's action was tantamount to contempt of the court, which is punishable by three years in jail. But instead of handing down punishment, Buqour adjourned for a 10-minute break only to return to more turbulent defendants.

"The blood of our brothers will not go wasted," shouted another defendant, Ahmad Samir, at the judges as they reconvened.

"Await death, Obeidat, for you are God's enemy," he roared, addressing the military prosecutor, Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Obeidat.

Some of the other defendants recited versus from the Koran, Islam's holy book, or shouted insults at the judges. All nine suspects - sporting beards and standing in the dock - later turned their backs to the bench and knelt in prayers.

Azmi al-Jarouzi was venting his rage that a year previously, four of their co-conspirators had been shot in a gun battle with police on April 20, 2004.

Their stroppy manners then forced the judge to order them out of the courtroom.

According to the Anti Defamation League, the group had planned to use chemical weapons against the Jordanian prime minister, the secret service agency, the US embassy in Jordan and other sites.

CBS News states that the group was formally indicted on October 17, 2004.

Azmi al-Jayousi, the alleged mastermind of the cell who was captured in April, has confessed to military prosecutors the group was planning a chemical attack, the officials said.

Al-Jayousi and others have already stated in televised confessions that the plot was hatched by al-Zarqawi.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 27, 2005 4:48 PM

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