JORDANIAN AL-TAHRIR ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

UNCLAS AMMAN 007600

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KISL PTER JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN AL-TAHRIR ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

REF: AMMAN 05456


1. Jordan's state prosecutor charged three men on September
21 with belonging to the illegal Hizb al-Tahrir al-Islami
(Islamic Liberation Party). The three men were arrested in
July for distributing leaflets among delegates at the First
International Conference of Muslim Scholars, a meeting
sponsored by the palace to foster tolerance and the reject
extremism (reftel). No date was announced for their trial.


2. Eight Al-Tahrir activists were arrested on charges of
holding an illegal rally in a Palestinian area of Amman after
prayers on Friday, September 2. Post contacts report that
speakers at the rally called for the overthrow of Arab
governments, and praised Iraqi insurgents. The most
prominent detainee is pharmacist Saleh Al-Chalabi, leader of
the Jordanian Al-Tahrir party. According to local press,
over 1,000 attended the gathering.


3. Note: In order to operate legally in Jordan, political
parties must affirm a commitment to the current constitution.
Because it seeks a restoration of the Caliphate, Al-Tahrir
is unable to meet this requirement. Its sympathizers here
probably number fewer than five thousand. END NOTE


4. Comment: The Jordanian government has periodically
detained Al-Tahrir members for short periods, usually for
distributing literature. The group has been largely inactive
for the past decade, and had been eclipsed by other, more
prominent local Islamist groups. Al-Tahrir members have not
been accused of plotting violence in Jordan. This months
unauthorized mosque rally is a departure from the group's
norm.

RUBINSTEIN

RUBINSTEIN