October 8, 2001	Monday	Rajab 20, 1422

AMMAN, Oct 7: Dozens of Islamists, including 15 members of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, have been arrested over the last week, the organisation’s spokesman Jamil Abu Bakr told AFP on Sunday.

“The authorities have given no reason for these arrests which seem to be part of restrictive measures in effect in the country,” since the September 11 attacks in the United States, he added.

Last Sunday, Abu Bakr spoke of the arrest of at least six people, including Islamists, in the Baka’a refugee camp to the north of Amman, following a demonstration against Israel and the anti-terrorist coalition that the United States is trying to form after the September 11 attacks.

“The arrests of Islamists continued, and none of those arrested has appeared before the courts,” he said.

“We estimate that the number of people arrested to be several dozen, including some 15 from the Muslim Brotherhood and a further 10 (independent) Islamists,” he added.

“Members of the dissolved parliament have appealed to the government for the release of the arrested Islamists and we have sent a letter to that effect to the prime minister,” Abu Bakr said.

“The government has said the affair needs looking into further and has released just two people on health grounds,” he continued.

Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb warned that “the government would not hestitate in taking necessary measures in the face of reactions that were extremist, not constructive and likely to threaten Jordan’s security and stability.”—AFP