AMMAN
A Jordanian state security court has set December 22 as the date for trying Zaki Bani Arshid, deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's branch in the kingdom, for allegedly harming Jordan's relations with a foreign state.
"The charges against Bani Arshid include committing acts that could harm the kingdom's relations with a foreign country," defense lawyer Hekmat al-Rowashda told The Anadolu Agency on Monday.
Bani Arshid was detained last month after making public statements in which he described the United Arab Emirates as a "top sponsor of terrorism."
The statements came after the Emirates officially listed scores of Islamist movements – including the Muslim Brotherhood – as "terrorist" groups.
Also included on the list were the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Shiite Houthi movement and the Egypt-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.
The Emirates is not the only Arab country to label the Brotherhood a "terrorist" movement.
Egypt branded the group, from which ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi hails, a "terrorist" movement late last year, with Saudi Arabia following suit shortly afterward.
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