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Horrid Events Hit Jordan in 2016 | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Jordanian security vehicles seen near the General Intelligence directorate offices near al Baqaa Refugee Camp, north of Amman, Jordan, June 6, 2016. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed


Amman- Jordan witnessed in 2016 unprecedented political and security events along with many terrorist acts.

As per the important political incidents, during 2016, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan accepted the resignation of the government led by Abdullah Ensour and appointed Hani al-Malki to compose a new cabinet.

The Kingdom saw the appointment of Major General Mahmoud Freihat as the JAF’s new joint chief of staff to succeed the retired Lieutenant General, Mashal Mohammad Al Zaben.

General elections were held in Jordan on 20 September 2016 to elect the 18th Lower House of Parliament. The elections were announced after parliament was dissolved by King Abdullah II of Jordan on 29 May 2016, with the King appointing Hani Al-Mulki as interim Prime Minister following the resignation of Abdullah Ensour. These elections featured the participation of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and the fall of many prominent political symbols.

The remarkable political developments of 2016 also included a decision to shut down the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Amman based on a decision taken by the governor of the [Jordanian] capital. This decision was one of many to close other offices for the organization across the Kingdom, which was considered a conclusion to the Brotherhood’s issue.

Political-security crimes

On 2 March 2016, Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Al Momani announced the conclusion of the security operation in Irbid, which killed seven members from a terrorist group and led to the martyrdom of Captain Hussein Zyoud from the Specialized Security Forces.

On 6 June 2016, the Kingdom lost five members from the intelligence service killed by a terrorist, who was arrested after few hours and then sentenced to death. On June 21, a blast targeted a Jordanian army post for Syrian refugees at the north-eastern borders of Jordan and killed seven members from the Jordanian armed forces and the Civil Defense.

On September 25, Jordanian Writer Nahed Hattar was shot outside the Jordanian Justice Palace while his killer admitted that he committed his crime to punish the writer for offending the Islamic Religion.

In November, three U.S. soldiers were killed in a military base in Al Jafr region and investigations are still ongoing.

In August, gendarme forces in cooperation with security bodies carried out remarkable security raids in Moan.
The Hashemite Kingdom also lost four pilots from the Royal Air Forces in 2016.

Other crimes

Jordan witnessed bizarre murders in 2016. On January 22, Fayez Suheimat, former director of the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, was shot dead by one of his sons who suffered from a psychiatric disorder.

On November 3, a man in his 20s decapitated his mother, who was in her 50s, and then fled the house. This was considered the most brutal crime in the country over the past years.

Drugs and road accidents

Along with all those incidents and crimes that took place in this year, the fight against drugs also had a share in 2016. Authorities foiled attempts to smuggle the biggest quantity of drugs in Jordan’s history by confiscating 123 million Captagon pills along with other illegal items.

Road accidents also killed many people. One of the saddest accidents killed 16 Palestinian pilgrims after the bus overturned in a remote area southern Jordan.

The Hashemite Kingdom also witnessed a number of protests followed by riot. Protets were organized against unemployment, amendments of educational curricula and the gas contract inked with Israel.

Finally, it is worth noting that during 2016, Jordan hosted the World Cup for females under 17 years old.