by Taylor Luck, The Jordan Times

AMMAN — The Awqaf Ministry has banned four clerics for encouraging citizens to support the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group during Friday sermons earlier this month, the minister, Hayel Dawood, said Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses say the four imams urged citizens to “come to the aid” of IS, in direct violation of the Preaching and Guidance Law, which forbids speech of political, sectarian and extremist nature in Friday sermons.

The four clerics, who were not ministry employees but had received prior authorisation from awqaf officials to preach in under-staffed mosques, face a lifetime ban from delivering sermons in Jordan under a ministry decision.

“The minbar [pulpit] is a sacred right and privilege, and we will not tolerate its use for political agendas, inciting violence, and particularly the support of extremist groups,” Dawood told The Jordan Times.

According to judicial sources, authorities are set to refer the four men to the State Security Court for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Law, which criminalises the promotion of extremist ideology and speech encouraging others to join terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, authorities have arrested seven men in Irbid, 80km north of Amman, for the possession of IS flags.

Security sources said police arrested the men outside Irbid after a search of their vehicle produced a black banner bearing the symbol of the terrorist group.

Moussa Abdallat, defence attorney for five of the seven detainees, said the men’s vehicle was pulled over for a routine search after its owner fired live rounds of celebratory fire during a wedding outside the northern city.

The seven men are expected to face terrorism charges, judicial sources say.

Over 1,200 Jordanians are reportedly fighting alongside IS in Iraq and Syria, but the jihadist movement has no official presence in Jordan.