The Jordanian State Security Court on Sunday, November 15, sentenced three men who were involved in an armed attack on the Greek Orthodox Church in Kirkuk province to death.
The attack occurred on Friday, November 1, during a funeral service at St. George's Church, located in the village of Hammoud in the Kirkuk district of southern Jordan. When the attackers entered the place of the ceremony, they opened fire on those present, as a result of which nine people were killed and dozens were injured. According to the statistics announced by the Jordanian authorities, the number of injured in this attack was 34.
The Jordanian security authorities identified and arrested the three main suspects three days after the attack, on 4 Bavan. These people included two brothers named Mashal and Haza Zidan Muhammad and one of their relatives named Ahmed Sami Hossein.
According to the report of the official Jordanian news agency, the State Security Court convicted these three people of committing terrorist acts that led to human death, in connection with all nine victims, using weapons and ammunition in terrorist acts, maintaining weapons and ammunition for the purpose of carrying out terrorist acts, conspiring to carry out armed attacks and promoting a terrorist organization. Also, one of the defendants was found guilty of financing with the purpose of using it to finance terrorist activity, based on the Jordanian money laundering and terrorist financing law.
According to Jordan's official news agency, the ruling issued by the State Security Court is subject to automatic review by the Court of Arbitration in this country. Also, according to Article 39 of the Jordanian Constitution, execution of the death sentence will only be possible after the King's approval.