Hadrian’s Arch, the entry-way to one of Jordan’s most visited tourist sites. Taylor Luck for The National
Hadrian’s Arch, the entry-way to one of Jordan’s most visited tourist sites. Taylor Luck for The National
Hadrian’s Arch, the entry-way to one of Jordan’s most visited tourist sites. Taylor Luck for The National
Hadrian’s Arch, the entry-way to one of Jordan’s most visited tourist sites. Taylor Luck for The National

Man who stabbed tourists in Jordan's historic Jerash sentenced to death


Khaled Yacoub Oweis
  • English
  • Arabic

A man has been sentenced to death for stabbing eight people at the Roman ruins in Jordan's Jerash city in 2019.

The attack at one of Jordan's most visited sites wounded three Mexicans and one Swiss national, as well as several Jordanians. The Mexican tourists and a Jordanian police officer were in serious condition after the attack, but have since recovered.

A Jordanian security court sentenced two other men in connection with the attack to seven and 20 years in prison. A military judge read the sentences in footage broadcast by a state television station.

The court sentenced the primary suspect with “hanging until death” for the stabbing and for "attempting to join an armed group and terrorist organisations".

The authorities did not release the name of the man but he is widely believed to be from a Palestinian refugee camp near Jerash.

Jerash, 51 kilometres from Amman, draws thousands of visitors a year to its ancient city, the country’s largest Roman site. The area has been inhabited on and off since the first millennium BC.

Tourism was a major source of employment in Jordan before the coronavirus pandemic, and the government said the attacker was inspired by militant groups that have targeted high-profile sites in the past. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, tourism accounted for almost 20 per cent of Jordan's GDP.

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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