Jordanian government tightens penalties in terrorism cases from 5 to 10 and 15 years, with some reaching the death penalty

The Jordanian government announced the imposition of harsher penalties for terrorism offenses following two incidents: a shooting at the Karak Church that claimed nine lives, and the stabbing of a security officer last Thursday outside the Sri Lankan embassy on Al-Madinah Street in the capital, Amman.

Jordan’s Petra News Agency reported that the Cabinet decided to begin amending a package of laws related to terrorism cases, aiming to impose stricter punishments on perpetrators in order to safeguard national security and social and community peace. It confirmed that the legal amendments would be expedited and submitted to the House of Representatives within two weeks of their adoption, for discussion and approval in accordance with constitutional procedures.

The Cabinet approved doubling the minimum penalties for terrorism cases under the Anti-Terrorism Law from five years to ten years, and up to 15 years in certain cases, with the death penalty applicable in some instances. The amendments also impose mandatory precautionary measures on individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses after serving their sentences, ensuring they remain under a stringent security framework for a period deemed appropriate by the court.

Petra stated that the Cabinet approved modifying the good-conduct sentence reduction period for terrorism convicts from nine months to 12 months, thereby denying them the benefit of Article 34 of the Prisons and Rehabilitation Centers Law, which allows for early release after serving three-quarters of their sentence if they demonstrate good behavior. This change was deemed necessary due to the severity and special nature of these crimes, which pose a threat to national security and social stability.

The amendments also stipulate that sentences for multiple terrorism-related offenses will be cumulative, with each crime counted separately, rather than applying only the highest penalty as currently practiced, in order to achieve both general and specific deterrence. Additionally, penalties for hate speech and behaviors related to terrorism cases will be intensified, with longer deterrent periods imposed.

The Cabinet also decided to double penalties for accomplices, instigators, and intermediaries involved in terrorism cases, pursuant to the amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Law. Furthermore, the government decided that, starting Sunday, current terrorism convicts will no longer be eligible for the good-conduct sentence reduction, with their eligible reduction period set at 12 months instead of nine.

The agency noted that these legal amendments constitute the first package within a comprehensive review initiated by the government across various laws and legislation, aimed at strengthening and tightening counter-terrorism and counter-extremism efforts, enhancing deterrence, and protecting national security and social peace.