RAED HIJAZI DEATH PENALTY CONVICTION UPHELD

UNCLAS AMMAN 000077 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN CASC PTER JO SUBJECT: RAED HIJAZI DEATH PENALTY CONVICTION UPHELD ¶1. (U) The State Security Court on January 5 upheld the death penalty conviction of Jordanian-American Raed Hijazi for conspiring to bomb tourist sites in Jordan during the Millennium celebrations. An Embassy Legal contact has confirmed press reports that Hijazi will be able to appeal the decision to the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court). If Hijazi's death sentence is upheld through the appeals process, King Abdullah also has the power to commute the sentence to life imprisonment. Should Hijazi decide to appeal the State Security Court's decision, the appeals process will likely take several months. We will continue to follow this case and will report any new developments as they occur. GNEHM