# Jordan Tightens Terrorism Penalties Following Recent Deadly Attacks Government introduces stricter sentencing and surveillance measures after two violent incidents in Jordan. - **Source:** [The New Arab](https://www.newarab.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e87bcb2a-398b-45ae-b4cc-d402b9198e61 ## Legislative Reform Package The Jordanian Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved urgent measures to increase penalties for terrorism-related crimes. These changes include raising minimum prison terms and restricting early release options. The government aims to deter future violence following two recent, high-profile attacks that occurred within the kingdom in late October. ## Stricter Sentencing Standards Under the new rules, terrorism convicts will no longer benefit from sentence reductions for good behavior. Prison terms will now be calculated as 12 months per year instead of nine. Furthermore, the government plans to increase the minimum prison sentence for terrorism offences from five years to 10 or 15 years. ## Cumulative Sentence Application Proposed amendments mandate that sentences for multiple terrorism-related offences must be served separately. Previously, courts often applied only the longest sentence for concurrent crimes. This change ensures that individuals convicted of multiple charges face significantly longer total incarceration periods, reflecting the severity of each individual act committed against the state. ## Post-Sentence Surveillance Measures The government is introducing mandatory precautionary measures for individuals after they complete their prison terms. These include electronic monitoring, close police surveillance, and house arrest for periods determined by the court. These measures aim to mitigate the risk of recidivism among those convicted of participating in or inciting terrorist activities. ## Recent Violent Incidents The legislative push follows a deadly shooting at St George’s Church in Hamoud on October 23, which resulted in nine deaths. Additionally, a separate stabbing attack occurred on Medina Street in Amman, killing Corporal Jawad Ali Khalaf al-Salayta. These rare incidents have prompted an immediate and robust response from the Jordanian government. ## State Security Court Proceedings Five defendants currently face trial at the State Security Court for the church attack, including charges of conspiracy and promoting terrorist ideologies. Eyewitnesses, including relatives of the victims, have identified the suspects during recent hearings. The court is processing seven distinct charges against the group, highlighting the complexity of the ongoing legal case. ## Broadening Scope of Offenses The proposed changes expand the definition of punishable conduct to include those who assist or incite terrorist acts. Hate speech deemed linked to terrorism will also face harsher penalties under the new framework. By targeting the broader ecosystem of support, the government intends to curb the spread of radical ideologies within the country. ## Parliamentary Approval Process The Cabinet has granted these amendments urgent status to ensure swift implementation. The proposals will be referred to the Jordanian parliament within two weeks for formal debate and final approval. This legislative move underscores the state's commitment to maintaining internal security in the wake of recent, rare, and highly disruptive violent attacks. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.newarab.com/news/jordan-moves-toughen-terrorism-penalties-after-two-attacks — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._