Four Jordanian nationals released from Syrian prisons

Four Jordanian nationals have been released from Syrian prisons, with four more set to be released.

1 min read

10 April, 2019

Jordan and Syria re-opened opened the Jaber-Naseeb border crossing in October 2018 [Getty]

Jordan says four of its nationals held in Syrian prisons have been released following contacts between the two governments.

Sufian Qudah, spokesman for the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday one person remains in the Syrian capital Damascus where his family lives and the others have either arrived or are on their way to Jordan.

Qudah said Jordan continues to follow up on the cases of four others expected to be covered by the release order. It was not clear why the Jordanians were detained.

Jordan's relations with neighbouring Syria have been strained since 2011 when the civil war began, displacing and killing hundreds of thousands.

A thaw followed the reopening of the border crossing between the two countries last year. The crossing closed in 2015 when it fell into rebel hands.

Since the reopening of borders in mid-October more than 30 Jordanians have been arrested by Syrian authorities, according to The Jordan Times.

According to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, the Jordanians travel to Syria for tourism and are arrested without clear reasons.

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