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Muslim Brotherhood Support In Jordan
by Tareq Ayyoub
BAQAA REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan (IslamOnline) - Over 20,000 supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan on Friday staged a rally in the Baqaa refugee camp, a move which many consider a show of strength by the group one week after a confrontation between the Brotherhood and police forces in the Jordanian capital Amman erupted during a similar rally to show support to Palestinian Intifada, or uprising.
Friday's protest, which witnessed for the first time a military parade by Brotherhood members, coincided with a deadly attack by a Hamas member near the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, which left at least six Israelis dead and over 100 injured.
During the rally, participants burned Israeli and U.S. flags and urged Arabs and Muslims to support Hamas and other Palestinian groups' military operations. They also urged the Jordanian government to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and to sack Israeli diplomats from Jordan.
The military parade included the launching of a Hawn-missile-like grenade similar to those launched by Palestinians against Israeli targets in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Leader of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, Abdul Maguid Thneibat, said his group does not want to enter into a confrontation with the government and urged it to allow political parties in Jordan to express their support for the eight-month-old Palestinian Intifada.
"Jihad is the only way to liberate Palestine and Arabs should get rid of peace talks with Israel and concentrate on extending assistance to Hamas, Jihad Islami and other Palestinian groups," Thneibat told the gathering.
During the rally, speakers praised Mahmoud Marmash, the Palestinian who exploded the bomb, killing himself in the process, in the attack on Friday in the Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, and described him as an example for all Arabs and Muslims to fight the Israelis.
Jordanian police did not enter the camp and participants dispersed peacefully. No arrests took place following the rally.
Recently, the Jordanian government banned all rallies and procession and said that it would firmly react to any attempt to organize any rally by any group.
On March 11th, several Brotherhood members were beaten by police following Friday prayers when they tried to defy police rules and stage a rally in support of the Palestinian people. Many of the participants were arrested and detained in the Public Intelligence Department.
The government's extreme reaction drew wide range criticism from inside and outside the Kingdom, considering the move a violation of basic human rights.
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