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Bani Rsheid should have read the law — PM

By Omar Obeidat - Nov 26,2014 - Last updated at Nov 26,2014

AMMAN – Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday reiterated the official stand on the arrest of a Muslim Brotherhood leader, insisting that Zaki Bani Rsheid’s prosecution is not driven by political motives.

The premier said the Brotherhood’s deputy overall leader violated the law by making statements that could harm Jordan's relations with a friendly country. 

Ensour was speaking at a meeting with a group of representatives from political parties and professional associations –– at a session to discuss ways to develop public sector performance

Bani Rsheid published harsh remarks on the UAE after it placed the Muslim Brotherhood on a blacklist.

“He was not arrested for expressing his views but rather for his harmful remarks that would sour the relation between Jordan and a friendly country,” which happens to be a key supporter of Jordan and the host of more than 225,000 Jordanian expatriates working there.  

According to the recently amended Anti-Terror Law, comments and statements by individuals that could sour Jordan’s relations with a friendly country is a punishable crime. 

“The fourth anniversary for the Arab Spring is approaching and no one has been arrested in Jordan expressing their opinions,” the premier insisted, signalling that Bani Rsheid could have endangered the Kingdom’s economic, political and commercial ties with the UAE, an act he said the Jordanian people would not accept. 

“He should have read the law before making the post,” Ensour said, referring to the Facebook comment by Bani Rsheid that led to his arrest on Thursday night.  

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