JORDAN. COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR ISLAMISTS OVER ATTACK PLOTS

April 4, 2005: Jordan's state security court upheld death sentences against Abu Hoshar and Osama Sammar, two Islamist militants convicted of plotting attacks against Jewish and Western tourists during millennium celebrations. The military tribunal also upheld jail sentences against seven other defendants at the third appeal since they were convicted in September 2000 of planning bombings using sulphuric and nitric acids against tourist sites in Jordan. Lawyers for alleged ringleader Khodr Abu Hoshar and his fellow accused, who consistently charged that the verdict was unfair and that testimony was made under duress, were expected to appeal again. The Islamists appealed the verdict twice but the appeals court returned the case on each occasion to the state security court which upheld its initial verdict each time. The men were among a group of 28 defendants who went on trial in 2000, including six who were acquitted, and 12 fugitives. Initially the group was accused of links to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda terror network but charge was dropped for lack of proof. (Sources: Agence France Presse, 04/04/2005)