Jordan Executions for Terror, Crime
Jordan executes six convicts for terror and violent crimes after final sentences confirmed
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Jordan’s government said the hangings took place at dawn on Sunday, June 21, 2026, after the sentences reached “absolute finality,” with the process conducted under the “direct oversight of the Attorney General of the State Security Court” under Article 359 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
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In the 2018 “Salt Cell” case, the executed were identified as Mahmoud Nayef Mousa and Anas Anwar Adel Saleh, after authorities said their cell attack killed six specific members of Jordan’s security forces: Lt. Col. Moath Khamis Al-Damani, Warrant Officer Ali Adnan Qawqazah, Sgt. Hisham Abdul Rahman Deif Allah Al-Aqarbah, and Corporals Mohammad Ahmad Bani Yassin, Mohammad Khaled Al-Hayajneh, and Ahmad Idris Al-Zoubi.
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Authorities also named the terrorism case figure and victim: the death sentence was carried out against Ibrahim Mansour Mohammad over a 2022 terrorism case authorities said culminated in the targeted killing of Brigadier General Abdul Razzaq Al-Dalabeeh.
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A government statement carried by Petra/Tİmes Kuwait added that Jordan “continues to retain the death penalty” for a range of serious offenses, explicitly including terrorism-related crimes and certain major criminal offenses.
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News.Az, citing Anadolu Agency, reported the executions were carried out “immediately after all sentences received final judicial clearance and legal protocols were completed,” emphasizing the timing relative to final judicial review.
Jordan hanged six men at dawn on Sunday, June 21, 2026, ending a nine-year moratorium on the death penalty. Times of Israel reported that the executions were carried out by hanging at a correctional facility, covering convictions tied to terrorism attacks and deadly drug-raid confrontations that collectively killed 10 security personnel.
Government spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani confirmed all "constitutional and legal procedures" had been completed. He said the hangings were conducted under the "direct oversight of the Attorney General of the State Security Court" in line with Article 359 of Jordan's Criminal Procedure Code.
Salt Cell Attackers and a 2022 Assassination Head the List
Two of the six men were convicted in the 2018 "Salt Cell" case. Mahmoud Nayef Mousa and Anas Anwar Adel Saleh were hanged for a terrorist attack that killed six members of Jordan's security forces, including Lt. Col. Moath Khamis Al-Damani and Warrant Officer Ali Adnan Qawqazah, according to Jordan News.
A third man, Ibrahim Mansour Mohammad, was executed for the 2022 targeted killing of Brigadier General Abdul Razzaq Al-Dalabeeh during riots in the city of Ma'an. Middle East Monitor reported the case was heard by Jordan's State Security Court, which handles terrorism and espionage charges.
Three Drug-Raid Killings Bring Death Sentences After Years in Court
The remaining three executions stemmed from drug trafficking cases that turned deadly during anti-narcotics raids. Hamzeh Mahmoud Mansour was hanged for a 2014 raid that killed Corporal Hosam Taleb Al-Abadi. Khaled Assaf Fayez was executed for killing Warrant Officer Mohammad Salameh Al-Suqrat in 2017. Ihab Maher Kamal was hanged for a 2018 raid in which First Lieutenant Ahmad Khaled Al-Rawahneh died.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan called the executions a "clear and continuous message to anyone who dares to attack members of the Jordanian Armed Forces." He also signaled plans to expand the death penalty to cover major drug smugglers working with foreign criminal networks, according to Free Malaysia Today.
Nine-Year Pause Ends With 100-Plus Still on Death Row
Jordan's last mass execution before Sunday was in March 2017, when 15 people were hanged, many for terrorism. That makes this a second resumption after a nine-year gap. Times of Israel noted that Jordan has cycled between pauses and bursts of executions before — a similar halt ended in 2014 when 11 men were hanged.
Spokesperson Al-Momani said more than 100 people remain on death row and executions will proceed "one by one" as sentences reach finality. Jordan's law carries at least 48 separate provisions that allow for the death penalty, covering terrorism, murder, and certain drug offenses.
Rights Groups Warn of Broader Crackdown Ahead
Human rights organizations quickly pushed back. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have long argued that Jordan's use of the State Security Court — rather than civilian courts — lacks independence and transparency. Middle East Monitor noted that some groups framed the executions as punishment for "alleged" charges, raising concerns about fair trial standards.
Jordan may also face pressure from the UN Human Rights Council and the European Union, both of which have called on the kingdom to abolish capital punishment entirely. The government, however, shows no sign of retreating. Premier Hassan said the state will push ahead with new laws to widen the death penalty's reach for drug traffickers, according to 24 News HD.
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