(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Hundreds of Jordanians on Friday called for the release of over one-dozen jailed protesters as demonstrations over the men's detention stretched into their third week.
Dozens of leftist and independent activists hit the streets in cities across the country calling for the "immediate release" of 18 protesters arrested earlier this month, accusing the authorities of enforcing "martial law".
At rallies in Karak, Tafileh, Madaba, Irbid and Amman, scores of youth activists denounced the recent arrest of their peers for raising "illegal slogans", chanting: "We are not scared of your threats"we will continue."
The authorities accuse those arrested of using either obscene language or illegal slogans during their protests.
Participants in Friday's rallies also condemned the authorities' referral of the men to the State Security Court, chanting, "No to trying civilians in military courts".
During the 300-strong Amman rally, authorities briefly detained leftist activist Suhaib Assaf, after the Jordan Communist Party member allegedly chanted "illegal slogans", activists and security sources say.
Later in the day, the Public Security Department (PSD) issued a statement saying that some of the demonstrators assaulted the police when they attempted to apprehend the activist, leading to the injury of some members of the security forces.
At the police station, a medical examiner was brought in to assess the detainee's medical and physical condition as is the norm in such cases, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted the PSD statement as saying.
The examination revealed that the activist has a heart condition so he was released on bail for humanitarian and medical reasons, the statement said.
Also on Friday, Salt and Maan residents continued protests against a film deemed insulting to Prophet Mohammed, urging Amman to expel the US ambassador to Jordan.
Burning American flags, they accused Washington of "anti-Muslim policies", chanting: "No US embassy, no ambassador on Jordanian soil".
Friday's demonstrations were marked by the lack of participation of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been absent from the streets for nearly one month.
Authorities have arrested a total of 18 protesters for chanting "illegal slogans" during a string a demonstrations urging their peers' release, forwarding the bulk of the detainees to the State Security Court where they face charges of "slandering the King", "undermining the regime" and "illegal assembly" - offences that could land each man up to 10 years in prison.
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