Jordanian defendants appeal to jihad as a mainstream Islamic concept to defend their plot to attack U.S. forces in Iraq. No doubt the moderate and serene King Abdullah will forthwith put a stop to this. “Jordanians deny US attack plot,” from Al-Jazeera, with thanks to Scaramouche:
Seventeen suspected fighters have pleaded not guilty to plotting an attack on the US military in Jordan and neighbouring Iraq.
Some of the defendants told the opening session of their trial in Jordan’s military court that they believed jihad “isn’t a crime”.
Standing in the dock to enter their pleas, they accused the Jordanian government of being an “infidel” and a “puppet” of the US.
The 17, all in custody, are charged with different counts, including conspiring to commit terrorism and attempting to harm Jordan’s relations with a foreign country – a reference to Iraq, where the suspects allegedly planned to carry out operations against US forces, but did not manage to travel there.