Jordan to release Muslim Brotherhood leader who 'insulted' UAE

Zaki Bani Rsheid, deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, is expected to be freed from prison within the next 15 days, a spokesperson for the group said on Wednesday.

Bani Rsheid, was convicted by the Jordanian State Security Court in February of "acts harmful to the kingdom's relations with a foreign state".

Bani Rsheid was sentenced to 18 months under the 2014 amended Anti-Terrorism Law.

The court convicted Zaki Bani Irsheid, a senior Muslim Brotherhood official, under Jordan’s terrorism law, which lawmakers amended in 2014 to include a provision that criminalizes “disturbing [Jordan’s] relations with a foreign state.”

He had been arrested for posting an article on Facebook accusing the UAE of sponsoring terrorism. His post came after the Gulf state formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Murad Adayleh, spokesperson for the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood group, told local Jordanian press Bani Rsheid is expected to be set free on January 4, 2016, after completing his prison sentence.

Rushaid is regarded a leading figure in the Islamist movement, and had been the secretary-general of the Islamic Action Front party.

He left his post following internal party discussions in what was seen as an attempt to defuse tensions with the government in Amman.

Jordan's powerful opposition Islamist movement was split by internal divisions earlier this year, with disputes that had the Jordanian government openly taking sides

The discussions eventually culminated with the emergence of a government-sponsored splinter faction in the Muslim Brotherhood, which has since obtained an official permission to operate to the dismay of the more Hawkish mainstream Muslim Brotherhood group.

Bani Rushaid is known for his strong connections to the Palestinian armed and political movement Hamas, and for being a staunch advocate for maintaining strong relations with the Gaza-based group.

This angered more dovish elements within the Brotherhood, who want to sever or weaken ties with Hamas.

There has been speculation for weeks now that Bani Rsheid could take over leadership of the mainstream Muslim Brotherhood from current Comptroller-General Hammam Said.