Jordan Court Releases Outspoken Former MP on Bail
A Jordanian military tribunal on Thursday freed on bail an outspoken former member of parliament who is on trial for urging a revolt in the kingdom, a court official said on Thursday.
"The state security court today released Ahmed Abbadi from jail on bail of 10,000 dinars (around $14,000)," the official told Agence France Presse without providing further details.
Abbadi, a controversial MP who served twice in parliament from 1989 to 1993 and 1997 to 2001, was arrested last month on charges of incitement against the regime for urging a revolt during a protest in January.
Facing 15 years in prison if convicted, Abbadi has said on a YouTube video that Jordan "will turn into a republic in two years," and that "the country should be freed from the Hashemite monarchy because it is ruling against the people's will."
New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Tuesday for the criminal charges against Abbadi to be dropped, saying they "violate freedom of expression."
In 2007, Abbadi was sentenced to two years in jail after branding as "corrupt" the regime of King Abdullah II and for making allegations of human rights abuse.
Source: Agence France Presse
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