Jordan is tightening security and speeding up anti-terror laws to ensure the country is better protected against bombings, Interior Minister Awni Yarfas said yesterday. Jordanian Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for triple suicide bombings that killed 57 people last week and threatened more attacks. âWe have stepped up security measures at hotels and shopping malls across Jordan and will be equipping them with the latest metal detectors,â Yarfas told Reuters. He said tougher security measures were also being enforced on the joint border post with Iraq.Yafas said the government was speeding up drafting a new anti-terror law that would allow the government to prosecute people who express sympathy for suicide bombings and uphold views that may incite or encourage such attacks. âThis is a preventative law to prevent support or sympathy for terror groups that target our stability,â Yarfas said. Officials involved in drafting the law say it gives police and prosecutors wider powers against âthose deemed by word or deed to help, incite, finance or encourage terror activities.â âThe law will take into consideration public freedoms and rights of citizens and at the same time protect the country and citizens in addition to individual freedoms,â Yafas said.
Rights groups say the countryâs existing laws already have enough safeguards against radical groups and fear that tougher anti-terror laws will only erode further civil liberties.