Jordan TV airs taped confessions of suspects involved in high-profile security case
AMMAN — The Jordan TV on Tuesday night broadcast taped confessions of suspects involved in high-profile case the General Intelligence department (GID) unveiled on Tuesday.
In the televised confessions, the suspects admitted to engaging in illegal activities that pose serious threat to national security, including the manufacturing of short-range missiles and drones as well as recruiting and training operatives and receiving funds from foreign sources.
The videos showed the eight key suspects, including three individuals at the centre of the missile manufacturing case, the key figure in the first recruitment case, two key suspects in a second recruitment operation, and two individuals involved in drone manufacturing case.
Rocket manufacturing case
Abdullah Hisham Ahmad Abdel Rahman, born in 1989 and a civil engineering graduate of the Jordan University of Science and Technology, confessed to leading a covert operation to manufacture rocket components. He revealed that his association with the Muslim Brotherhood group began in 2002 through school and mosque activities.
According to his testimony, a Brotherhood figure identified as Ibrahim Moahmmed, currently on trial in the State Security Court, said he proposed the idea of manufacturing rockets in Jordan in 2021. Abdullah was tasked with overseeing the production of metal frames and recruited his relative, Muath Al Ghanem, to help.
The two travelled to Lebanon, where they met with someone overseeing the project. They underwent security screening and received technical training in manual machining. The workshops, hidden in the garage of a residential building, were equipped with lathes and run by experienced technicians.
Upon his return to Jordan, Abdullah began acquiring machinery and raw materials, including CNC (computer numerical control) machines, which he believed would improve precision. The equipment was imported with the help of his uncle, Mohsen Al Ghanem, who also facilitated the transfer of funds from abroad.
Abdullah established a warehouse in Zarqa and later purchased land in the Nuqayrah area to build a larger, more secure facility. He described efforts to camouflage the structure and enhance its security features, including doors made of concrete to blend in with the building's design.
Muath Ghanem, born in 1990 and also a civil engineer, confirmed his involvement. He recalled several trips to Lebanon and detailed their work in setting up workshops in Jordan, including the procurement of materials and technical equipment.
Mohsen Al Ghanem, born in 1972 and a construction materials dealer, admitted to delivering tens of thousands of dollars from abroad to Abdullah and helping to import the CNC machines. He acknowledged suspicions about the nature of the project, but continued to provide logistical support.
Recruitment cases
In the first recruitment case, Khader Abdulaziz confessed to illegally recruiting young people as part of the unlicensed Muslim Brotherhood. A longtime member since 1975, he is currently the head of the group's administrative office in Zarqa. He admitted to organising ideological and security training sessions.
In the second recruitment case, Marwan Hawamdeh, a senior Brotherhood member, confessed to recruiting Anas Abu Awad. After being introduced to foreign operatives during a trip abroad, Marwan invited Anas to join him, where they were tasked with recruiting Jordanians and coordinating secure communications via encrypted devices and Telegram.
Anas Abu Awad confirmed his role, describing how he was given encrypted tools, meeting points in Amman and Mecca, and training on "dead drop" locations, places where prohibited materials such as digital storage devices were to be hidden. He cited cemeteries in Shafa Badran and Umm Al Hiran as examples.
Drone development case
In the drone development case, suspects Ali Qassem and Abdulaziz Haroun admitted to initiating plans in late 2023 to build drones for undisclosed purposes. Along with co-conspirators Ahmad Khalifa and Abdullah Al Haddar, the group assigned roles based on technical expertise. Haroun, an aerospace engineer, was responsible for drone frames, while Khalifa handled electrical circuitry and programming.
Haroun said he researched drone materials and suggested reinforced cardboard, citing its previous use in the Ukraine conflict. The group tested glider models on private farmland and, after successful trials, considered building operational drones.
He also revealed intentions to obtain additional components through his father, who had contacts with arms dealers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ammon
15-05-2025
- Ammon
How Did Jordanians Change the Equation of Media Defense for the Homeland?
In an unprecedented scene, Jordan has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past few years in the way Jordanians respond to organized and systematic smear campaigns targeting the nation and its steadfast positions, particularly on central issues such as Palestine and national unity. What used to be met with silence and apathy just a few years ago is now confronted with a sophisticated digital public awareness worthy of a country known for being at the forefront of authenticity and righteousness. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, defending Jordan in the digital space was primarily the task of certain officials and a handful of writers and journalists, while the majority viewed anyone who responded to rumors or debunked fabrications affecting Jordan with ridicule. At that time, any official statement was met with skepticism based on the notion that 'denying a denial affirms the claim.' But what has changed today? What has made the average Jordanian an unofficial spokesperson for their homeland, defending it with fierceness and dignity—as we saw in the public responses to a smear campaign led by a British website run by individuals affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood? The shift began with the unraveling of the so-called 'external opposition'—a group that promoted itself on social media using a dangerously theatrical approach, presenting rumors as 'intelligence' and exploiting people's thirst for information in chaotic times. This opposition, which carried little more than slander and doubt in its arsenal, revealed its true face when it sought to bargain with the state for personal gains. Eventually, their motives were exposed, the curtain lifted on their political farce, and they began discrediting one another. The myth of the 'trusted source' crumbled into nothingness, leaving only scandalous names in the collective memory. Surprisingly, it was sports—specifically football—that sparked the wave of popular defense of Jordan. In a country passionate about sports and deeply attached to its clubs and national team, the unfair loss in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final against Qatar, and the public sense of injustice due to the referee's bias, ignited a noble anger. Jordanians weren't just defending the result, but their national dignity, which had been mocked by certain factions known for their sectarian loyalties—especially following Iraq's loss to Jordan in the same tournament, which some tried to exploit to tarnish Jordan's reputation. Jordanians—whether from Ma'an or Zarqa, Al-Wehdat or Al-Faisaly—rallied around their national team. They found themselves united not just in defense of a game, but of Jordanian identity, history, and honorable positions that require not marketing, but appreciation and protection. Today, Jordan no longer stands alone in the face of smear campaigns. A new generation of Jordanians has emerged in the digital sphere—conscious, dignified, and capable of resolute confrontation. Official media outlets are no longer the only players on the scene; personal social media accounts of Jordanians have become the first line of defense for the nation. Every loyal and committed citizen, from across Jordan's geography, has become a spokesperson, a political defender, and an aware analyst—not swayed by sensationalism nor deceived by false emotions. The Jordanian today will not tolerate insults to the army that carries Gaza's burdens on its shoulders, nor accept doubt cast on the leadership that has consistently stood by Palestine without seeking praise or political leverage. These stances—etched by both official and popular Jordan—remain a rock upon which all smear attempts crash, regardless of the tools or platforms used. We are now witnessing a new national scene—bold and powerful—with the headline: 'Do not remain silent in the face of falsehood.' It is a Jordanian digital voice that fears no one and is unashamed to confront any who dare harm Jordan, its leadership, or its institutions. Jordanians no longer wait for an official statement to respond to a rumor; they are the response, the denial, and the stance. In a world where the battle is over narrative rather than truth, Jordanians have become the narrators of their own story. They do not allow it to be written elsewhere, nor do they let the malicious dictate its chapters. Jordanians have firmly established the belief that the image of the homeland cannot afford hesitation, that its dignity is non-negotiable, and that defending it is a duty, not a favor. In the era of 'platforms' and 'trends,' Jordanians have crafted their own powerful voice—unshaken by rumors and undeceived by suspicious clippings. It is a new digital generation, transcending regions and dialects, united in love for Jordan and unwavering in defense of its causes. And thus... Jordan today rests in safe hands—hands that guard not only its borders, but its image as well.
Jordan Times
14-05-2025
- Jordan Times
Gov't demands disclosure of assets linked to banned Muslim Brotherhood
Ministry of Social Development (Al Mamlaka TV photo) AMMAN — The committee entrusted with dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan urged any person who owns any assets belonging to the entity to contact them within a month to rectify their status. The committee's call was made based on the Court of Cassation's decision in February 2020, to consider the Muslim Brotherhood society that was established June 16, 1953 legally dissolved. 'Individuals who own assets that is affiliated with the dissolved Muslim Brotherhood society should contact the designated committee that was established by the Ministry of Social Development within one month,' secretary general of the Ministry of Social Development, head of the committee, said. Otherwise 'these individuals will be held accountable under the law,' he said in a circular obtained by The Jordan Times. On April 23, Interior Minister Mazen Faraya announced the immediate enforcement of the law provisions on the so-called dissolved Muslim Brotherhood by considering it an illegal association. 'We decided to close all headquarters or premises that are used by the Muslim Brotherhood or sites that are shared with other entities, under penalty of legal accountability,' Faraya said at the time. He also announced during a press conference the banning of all activities related to the so-called Muslim Brotherhood and considered it an illegal association. Faraya called on the committee that is entrusted with seizing all assets related to the Muslim Brotherhood to expedite the process in accordance with the law. The minister also stressed that membership in the so-called dissolved Muslim Brotherhood is prohibited, as well as the spreading of its ideologies. He added that legal action will be taken against any individual or entity if the current investigations into the terror-related cases that were announced last week prove that there are connections with the suspects or the alleged plots. On April 15, the General Intelligence Department (GID) announced that 16 men, including some who were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, allegedly planned to cause chaos and sabotage acts in Jordan. The group was charged with terrorism and manufacturing explosive substances against the suspects involved in alleged plots targeting Jordan's national security. The GID had said that the 16 men were arrested following close intelligence monitoring since 2021. Their alleged plans included manufacturing short-range rockets using local tools as well as tools imported for illegal purposes, possession of explosives and firearms, concealing a rocket ready to be deployed, planning to manufacture drones and recruiting and training operatives in Jordan as well as training them abroad, the GID said. The interior minister said during the press briefing that on the day the authorities announced the arrest of the 16 individuals, Muslim Brotherhood members destroyed a large number of documents in an attempt to hide their suspicious activities and connections. Some of the suspects appeared on national television, where they reportedly confessed to their affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and their alleged roles in manufacturing missiles, drones and recruiting others to join them.
Al Bawaba
27-04-2025
- Al Bawaba
Jordan arrests senior Muslim brotherhood leader
ALBAWABA - Jordan authorities have arrested Ahmed al-Zarqan, a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, days after officially banning the group and intensifying its crackdown on its activities and assets. Member of the Executive Bureau of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, Ahmed al-Zarqan of the Muslim Brotherhood. This is the website for the Executive Bureau of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. A member of the Executive Bureau and the second deputy to the General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Kingdom, Ahmed al-Zarqan was detained by Jordanian authorities, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera Net. In addition to being responsible for the organization's financial issues, he was also a member of the Executive Bureau. The Jordanian authorities have prohibited the operations of the organization and labeled it as a "illegal association." Al-Zarqan, who is 72 years old, is the most senior leader to be detained since the ban was implemented. The arrest of Aref Hamdan, a former member of the Executive Bureau and a member of the Shura Council of the organization, occurred a few days prior to his own arrest. Hamdan was taken into custody when he was at his place of employment in Amman. A transfer was made to the General Intelligence Prison, which is located in the Jandaweel region. There is a widespread belief among observers that Hamdan's detention is connected to the current investigation into the financial affairs of the Muslim Brotherhood. This investigation is being conducted as part of a security effort to seek for papers and evidence that might implicate the organization. These arrests occurred at the same time as the recent decision made by the Jordanian government, in which Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya formally prohibited the Muslim Brotherhood from performing any activities. It was ruled unlawful by Al-Faraya to be a member of the group or to promote its beliefs. Additionally, it was confirmed that all of the group's headquarters and offices would be shut down, regardless of whether or not they were in collaboration with other organizations. In addition, the government swiftly seized both the movable and immovable assets of the group in order to comply with the applicable legal orders. The authorities highlighted that any interaction with the organization that takes place via the media or social media platforms is legitimate in nature and subject to responsibility.
