Jordanian-American Sentenced to Death in Amman
VOA News
11 Feb 2002 10:46 UTC
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Jordan's state security court has sentenced a Jordanian-American man to death for conspiring to carry out terrorist attacks against American and Israeli tourists.

The military court in Amman found Raed Hijazi guilty on several counts Monday, but acquitted him of charges that linked him to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network.

Hijazi was convicted of plotting to carry out attacks on sites in Jordan frequented by U.S. and Israeli tourists. The attacks were to have taken place during millennium celebrations, more than two years ago.

The 32-year-old defendant was originally tried, convicted and sentenced to death in absentia. He was later arrested in Syria and extradited to Jordan.

Monday's verdict was the result of a new trial that began nine months ago. Hijazi, who reportedly once was a taxi driver in the U.S. city of Boston, reacted angrily when his verdict was announced. Before he was forcibly taken out of the courtroom, he lashed out at his judges, saying they were "worse than [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon."

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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