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| Abu Qatada verdict illustrates Jordan’s logic in fight against Islamic State | Abu Qatada verdict illustrates Jordan’s logic in fight against Islamic State |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The clearing of Abu Qatada on terrorism charges in Jordan on Wednesday might seem surprising in the UK, but seen from Amman’s point of view it is far more logical. | The clearing of Abu Qatada on terrorism charges in Jordan on Wednesday might seem surprising in the UK, but seen from Amman’s point of view it is far more logical. |
| The verdict follows indications that Jordan – increasingly concerned by both the war in Iraq on one border and in Syria to its north, as well as by a rising domestic Salafist movement – is adopting a strategy of divide and rule, co-opting those figures, like Abu Qatada, who are willing to condemn Islamic State (Isis). | The verdict follows indications that Jordan – increasingly concerned by both the war in Iraq on one border and in Syria to its north, as well as by a rising domestic Salafist movement – is adopting a strategy of divide and rule, co-opting those figures, like Abu Qatada, who are willing to condemn Islamic State (Isis). |
| According to some estimates there are some 2,000 Isis supporters in Jordan. | According to some estimates there are some 2,000 Isis supporters in Jordan. |
| Indeed, Abu Qatada’s acquittal was prefigured earlier this year by the release of Salafist leader Assem Barqawi, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Makdisi, who had spent five years in prison for recruiting jihadis for the war in Afghanistan. | Indeed, Abu Qatada’s acquittal was prefigured earlier this year by the release of Salafist leader Assem Barqawi, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Makdisi, who had spent five years in prison for recruiting jihadis for the war in Afghanistan. |
| Experts at the time of Makdisi’s release – unexpected even among Jordanian Salafist leaders – pointed to his criticism of Isis and support for the al-Qaida linked Nusra Front, which Jordan judges as not having the same ambitions to dominate the region as Isis. | Experts at the time of Makdisi’s release – unexpected even among Jordanian Salafist leaders – pointed to his criticism of Isis and support for the al-Qaida linked Nusra Front, which Jordan judges as not having the same ambitions to dominate the region as Isis. |
| With growing numbers of young affluent Jordanians being attracted to the third generation of Salafism – which first set down roots in the country in the late 1980s, not least around the towns of Zarqa and Ma’an – the kingdom is keen to distinguish between those it sees as a threat and those it can manage. | With growing numbers of young affluent Jordanians being attracted to the third generation of Salafism – which first set down roots in the country in the late 1980s, not least around the towns of Zarqa and Ma’an – the kingdom is keen to distinguish between those it sees as a threat and those it can manage. |
| Exacerbating the problem for Jordan is the weakening of Iraqi security on the two countries’ shared border earlier this year following Isis militants’ surprise gains across north and western Iraq. | Exacerbating the problem for Jordan is the weakening of Iraqi security on the two countries’ shared border earlier this year following Isis militants’ surprise gains across north and western Iraq. |
| Jordan also has the largest number of its citizens fighting with Islamist groups in Syria. | Jordan also has the largest number of its citizens fighting with Islamist groups in Syria. |
| Significantly, towards the end of his second trial earlier this month, Abu Qatada, who is also a vocal supporter of the Nusra Front, publicly criticised Isis’ beheading of journalists as un-Islamic. | |
| Speaking from his courtroom cell in Jordan, he told journalists: “Messengers should not be killed,” quoting the prophet Muhammad. | Speaking from his courtroom cell in Jordan, he told journalists: “Messengers should not be killed,” quoting the prophet Muhammad. |
| Jordan’s judgment appears to be that it is better to have prominent Salafist leaders opposed to Isis at large – if on a short leash – than a focus for discontent in jail. | Jordan’s judgment appears to be that it is better to have prominent Salafist leaders opposed to Isis at large – if on a short leash – than a focus for discontent in jail. |
| Speaking to al-Jazeera about Makdisi’s release earlier this year, Abu Sayyaf, leader of the Jordanian Jihadi Salafist movement based in the north of the country, said: “He is the mentor and father of our curriculum.” | Speaking to al-Jazeera about Makdisi’s release earlier this year, Abu Sayyaf, leader of the Jordanian Jihadi Salafist movement based in the north of the country, said: “He is the mentor and father of our curriculum.” |
| “There is a pressing need for a mentor like him at this time of bloodshed. He is very concerned about the blood of Muslims being shed and their souls and honour,” Abu Sayyaf added. | “There is a pressing need for a mentor like him at this time of bloodshed. He is very concerned about the blood of Muslims being shed and their souls and honour,” Abu Sayyaf added. |
| Abu Sayyaf has also insisted in the past that there should be no “jihad in Jordan” – although in other interviews, including one to Foreign Policy, he has made it clear that that is for pragmatic reasons concerning the strength of the movement at present in Jordan. | |
| The anxiety about the growing Salafist threat in Jordan, while not new, has been given fresh urgency following events in Iraq and Syria. At the beginning of the Arab spring, Jordan’s King Abdullah had been concerned by the threat of instability posed by the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters in the Gulf. | The anxiety about the growing Salafist threat in Jordan, while not new, has been given fresh urgency following events in Iraq and Syria. At the beginning of the Arab spring, Jordan’s King Abdullah had been concerned by the threat of instability posed by the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters in the Gulf. |
| It is in this broad context that Abu Qatada’s acquittal fits – a temporary and pragmatic strategy by the government aimed against the greater threat: Islamic State. | |
| Indeed there is some evidence that the kingdom’s decades long and very public antipathy to the Muslim Brotherhood, not least in the past five years, may have resulted in an increase in support for the Salafist movement, with many tribal “East Bank” Jordanians coming to see the Brotherhood as “foreign”. | Indeed there is some evidence that the kingdom’s decades long and very public antipathy to the Muslim Brotherhood, not least in the past five years, may have resulted in an increase in support for the Salafist movement, with many tribal “East Bank” Jordanians coming to see the Brotherhood as “foreign”. |