JORDAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR TWO CONNECTED TO KARAK TERROR CELL UPHELD

The Court of Cassation upheld a February State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing two men to death in connection with the Karak terror cell case that resulted in the death of 10 people in Karak Governorate in 2016.
In November, the SSC sentenced the two defendants to death, but decided immediately to reduce the sentence to life in prison, because “the two men were young and deserved a second chance in life”.
However, the Court of Cassation overturned the verdict a few months later, asking the SSC to sentence the two defendants to death.
“The defendants should not benefit from any penalty reductions because their actions caused fear, terror and chaos among Jordanians and tourists and caused multiple deaths,” the higher court ruled.
In February, the SSC adhered to the Court of Cassation’s request and handed the two defendants the death penalty.