AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday announced sweeping amendments to a number of laws related to terrorism, including doubling minimum prison sentences, restricting early-release provisions and imposing post-release security measures on individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses.

 

Under the proposed amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Law, the minimum prison sentence for terrorism-related crimes would increase from five to 10 years, rising to 15 years in certain cases, while some offenses could carry the death penalty, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

 

The proposed changes would also require courts to impose consecutive sentences for individuals convicted of multiple terrorism-related offenses, with each sentence calculated separately rather than applying only the longest sentence, as is currently the practice.

 

Another key amendment would change the calculation of prison terms for terrorism-related convictions, requiring a full 12 months to count as one year instead of the current nine-month arrangement.

 

The move would also prevent those convicted of terrorism-related offenses from benefiting from Article 34 of the Correctional and Rehabilitation Centres Law, which allows eligible prisoners to be released after serving three-quarters of their sentences.

 

The government said that the changes would apply immediately to individuals currently serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses, excluding them from sentence reductions granted on the basis of good conduct. Their prison terms would therefore be calculated on a 12-month basis rather than nine months.

 

The proposed legislation would also introduce mandatory precautionary measures for individuals convicted of terrorism-related crimes after they complete their prison sentences.

 

Such measures could include electronic monitoring, close surveillance, house arrest and other restrictions determined by the courts. The duration and nature of these measures would be left to judicial discretion.

 

The amendments would also double penalties for individuals who assist, incite or participate in terrorist activities, while introducing harsher punishments for hate speech and conduct associated with terrorism.

 

The Cabinet said the proposed amendments would be granted urgent status and referred to the Lower House within two weeks for debate and approval in accordance with constitutional procedures.

 

The measures constitute the first phase of a broader government review of existing legislation, aimed at strengthening efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, enhancing deterrence and safeguarding national security and social stability.

 

The Kingdom saw two terrorist attacks in less than two weeks, including the killing of Corporal Jawad Salaytah in Amman on Thursday and a shooting at funeral at St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Hmoud village in Karak, which left nine people dead and over 40 injured.