Jordan cracks down on criminals after men chop off teen’s hands

Up to 100 people have been detained for various crimes, most not connected to the particular incident that sparked this.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
An ambulance heads towards the city of Zarqa on the highway between Jordanian capital of Amman and Zarqa, September 11, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/MUHAMMAD HAMED)
An ambulance heads towards the city of Zarqa on the highway between Jordanian capital of Amman and Zarqa, September 11, 2020
(photo credit: REUTERS/MUHAMMAD HAMED)
A horrific crime in the Kingdom of Jordan has led to the authorities hunting down criminals who threaten the public, according to reports.
Last week, a 16-year-old was kidnapped while out buying bread. Men allegedly took him to a house, cut off his hands and attempted to blind him because they wanted revenge against the boy’s father.
The kingdom has launched a major security operation, according to the Al Ain News online portal in the Gulf. The authorities want to respond to popular anger and disgust over the abuse of the child, the report said. Security services have “moved in all directions to arrest the wanted and launched massive campaigns to arrest criminals who terrify citizens,” it said. As many as 100 people have been detained for various crimes, most not connected to the incident that sparked this.
The crime took place in Zarqa Governorate in northern Jordan and is one of the most horrific in recent memory. Public security officials have said the security forces will continue operating until all those wanted for the crime are detained.
One wanted man in Amman apparently threw himself off a balcony in an attempt to escape. Others who are wanted on various crimes, such as threats and blackmail, have turned themselves in.
The perpetrators who cut off the boy’s hands have been charged with attempted murder, and five have been detained so far, the report said. Jordan’s King Abdullah has expressed solidarity for the boy and provided for his medical treatment, Al Ain reported.
There is rising anger on social media against these kinds of vicious crimes. The boy was targeted as part of a vendetta and harmed because of anger at his father, according to the reports. The nature of the crime, cutting off his hands, is particularly brutal. A video of the crime also circulated on social media.
Reports in Jordanian media, including Al Ghad newspaper and Petra News Service, have emphasized the support for the widespread crackdown on criminals. The reports appear to indicate that many small shopkeepers are forced to pay some kind of protection “royalty,” as if to mafia gangs, suggesting a lack of clarity about whether there is a shadow criminal world extorting people.
There also are new anti-corruption drives and an attempt to stop children from panhandling or begging in the streets at traffic lights, Jordanian media reported.