Former Jordanian Legislator Sentenced

A military court on Thursday convicted a former legislator--Jordan’s first female lawmaker--of harming the government’s reputation by publishing an open letter accusing the prime minister of financial wrongdoing.

The court then sentenced Toujan Faisal, a fierce critic of the government and of Muslim extremists during her 1993-97 term in parliament, to 11/2 years in prison.

On being convicted, Faisal, standing near the bench in her dark blue prison uniform, shouted: “Your decision was ready beforehand. You already had checks from [Prime Minister Ali] abu Ragheb in your pockets.”

The verdict cannot be appealed because the charges against her are considered “minor misdemeanors and not crimes,” said the court’s presiding judge, Col. Tayel Raqad.

Zayed al Radaydeh, who had led the defense team, said he would find a way to appeal the verdict anyway. “The verdict is illegal, wrong and unconstitutional,” he said.

Faisal, 53, was charged with four counts, including publishing false and exaggerated information abroad that harmed the reputation and damaged the dignity of the Jordanian government, contempt of judicial authorities and public administration, and mocking the Islamic faith by insulting a mosque preacher.

Raqad told Faisal she was found guilty on all four counts, and then pronounced the sentence: “The court decided by consensus to confine you to jail for 11/2 years.”

Faisal stood alone to hear the verdict. Her eight-member defense team had withdrawn from the case last week, saying judges’ rulings had made it impossible for them to properly do their jobs. Faisal has argued her case on her own since.