The State Security Court in Jordan has sentenced three Islamic extremists to death by hanging for the murder of nine Christians. The ruling comes three weeks after the shooting attack on a church in the southern part of the country. The verdict ordered the execution of the gunmen and handed down prison terms to the weapons suppliers.
The attack occurred on Oct. 23 at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hammoud village, Karak Governorate, located about 80 kilometers south of Amman. Armed men stormed the premises while the local community gathered for a funeral service.
Security camera footage showed three gunmen firing weapons on the street before heading toward the worship site. A witness reported that the men entered the property shouting extremist slogans and fired into the church courtyard while more than 150 people attended a funeral.
In addition to the nine fatalities, 25 worshippers suffered injuries. The town of Hammoud maintains a historically Christian majority population, within a nation where Christians comprise 2 to 3 percent of the total population.
The assault on the congregation reflects the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
The assailants were identified as brothers Hazzaa Mohammad and Mishaal Mohammad and their brother-in-law Ahmad Hussein, all members of the Thneibat clan. The court convicted them of executing terrorist acts using weapons, possessing firearms for terrorist intent, and conspiring to promote the ideology of a terrorist group.
Victims' family attorney Amer Halasah stated that the defendants confessed to the killings in court. He noted that the tribunal applied the most severe penalties under Jordan’s 2006 anti-terrorism law following a swift trial spanning four hearings.
One of the perpetrators was also convicted of providing funds to finance terrorist acts.
Arms trade convictions and regional military response
In the same trial, the court sentenced two additional men involved in logistics. The two men were sentenced to six years in prison for selling the weapons used in the church assault.
Following the shooting, Jordanian military officials conducted strikes against radical strongholds across the border. According to Jordanian military statements, at least 20 Islamic State members were killed in military operations carried out in Syria in the days following the massacre.
The three men sentenced to death have 30 days to appeal the verdict before Jordan's Court of Cassation.
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