AMMAN, Jordan – Jordanian security forces arrested a renowned jihadi ideologue Monday on charges that he violated the country's anti-terrorism law, his defense lawyer and a government official said.
Abu Mohammed al-Maqdesi was detained after urging rival militant groups to unite against an international coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, said the lawyer, Moussa al-Abdallat.
Jordan is part of the U.S.-led coalition, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Emirates and Bahrain. Qatar has provided logistical support.
A Jordanian government official confirmed al-Maqdesi's arrest Monday, four months after the preacher completed a five-year prison stint. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case with journalists.
Al-Abdallat said more than 100 people have been arrested in Jordan since August on suspicion that they supported the Islamic State group.
Jordan's Islamic militants are split between supporters of the Islamic State group and Jabhat al-Nusra, the branch of al-Qaida in Syria.
After his release from prison in June, Al-Maqdesi had criticized Islamic State militants for attacking fellow Muslims. However, he recently called on his website for Muslim unity against a "crusader war," a reference to coalition airstrikes.
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