A Jordanian court has sentenced the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in the country to 18 months in prison, for criticising the United Arab Emirates in a Facebook post.
Zaki Bani Ersheid, who was arrested in November last year, was convicted of committing “acts harmful to the country’s relations with a friendly nation.”
The Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement that the sentence was “politically motivated and demonstrates a deliberate escalation by the state against the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan.” “It is a blow to freedom of speech and the rights of citizens,” added the opposition organisation.
Mr Ercheid’s lawyer, Saleh al-Armouti, criticised the sentence saying, “It's the death of freedom of speech and a sword that hangs over anyone who dares express his personal view.”
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