State Security Court
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The State Security Court is a judicial institution in Jordan. It deals with cases regarding state security, but also with drug offences and other types of cases. The defendants in the court can be both military personnel as well as civilians.
The Court has faced criticism for lack of independence from the executive, unfair trials, and civilians being defendants in a militarized court.
The State Security Court was derived from earlier military courts from the time when Jordan was under martial law.[1]
In September 2011, King Abdullah II of Jordan limited the possibilities of the Court to adjudicate over civilians. There would be only four types of offences over which it was to have jurisdiction: high treason, espionage, terrorism, and drug trafficking. The changes to the law were to take effect in three years. The Parliament of Jordan had voted against proposals to remove all jurisdiction over civilians in the court.[2]