Jordanians rally against attacks on pro-reform protesters

Jordanians rally against attacks on pro-reform protesters

2011-12-31 09:35:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMMAN (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets of downtown Amman on Friday to call for genuine political reforms and condemn the continued attacks on peaceful activists, Ammon News reported.

The protest organized by the Muslim Brotherhood took place following Friday prayers outside the Al Husseini Mosque amidst heavy security. Several Islamist leaders and activists from various youth movements participated in the protest.

Demonstrators chanted slogans in protest of the attack on Islamist activists in a rally last Friday in the city of Mafraq. During the rally, he Muslim Brotherhood's branch was burnt and dozens were injured in clashes between pro-reform youth from the Islamist movement and counter protesters from the Bani Hassan tribe and security forces.

Protesters on Friday criticized the security forces' failure to prevent the violence and claimed the attacks were an attempt to distance the Islamist movement from the tribal structure in governorates. They chanted slogans in support of Jordanian tribes and stressed the unity of the Jordanian people.

Protesters also blasted privatization, corruption and what they described as incompetence of members of the Lower House of Parliament. They condemned what they see as 'rampant and endemic corruption' and demanded genuine political reforms.

In October, Jordanian King Abdullah II issued a decree approving the formation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Awn Al-khasawneh. This is the country's third government this year alone amid pro-reform protests.

Jordanians have been demanding the trial of corrupt officials since February and have stressed that they will continue protesting until they witness "real and tangible measures" to combat corruption.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-31