The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan at its meeting on Sunday, decided to begin amending a package of laws related to terrorism offences to impose harsher penalties on those convicted of terrorist crimes, in a move aimed at protecting national security and maintaining civil and societal peace.
The Cabinet decided to double the minimum prison sentences for terrorism offences under the Anti-Terrorism Law, raising them from five to 10 years, and to 15 years in certain cases, with some offences carrying the death penalty.
It also decided that sentences for individuals convicted of multiple terrorism offences would be served cumulatively, with the prison term for each crime calculated separately, rather than imposing only the longest sentence as is currently the practice. The measure aims to strengthen both general and specific deterrence.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet recited Al-Fatiha in memory of martyred soldier Jawad Al-Salaytah, who was martyred following the heinous terrorist attack that took place last Thursday on Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Street in the capital, Amman.
The Cabinet extended its condolences to Al-Salaytah’s family and relatives, as well as to all Jordanians. It also wished his colleague, First Lieutenant Firas Al-Ananzeh, safety and a speedy recovery, praising his courage in preventing the terrorist attacker from continuing his criminal actions.
