AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 21 -- Jordan on Sunday deported four detained leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, against their will.
Hamas politburo chief Khalid Mishal, official spokesman Ibrahim Ghosheh, and politburo members Izzat Risheq and Sami Khater arrived in the Qatari capital, Doha, aboard a private Qatari government jet.
In an interview with the independent Qatar-based Al-Jazeerah satellite channel, Mishal said he and his colleagues were$?'surprised by this unexpected measure.'
He said they were handcuffed, blindfolded and taken without prior notice or explanation from their cells in Amman and put on the plane. Mishal said he and his colleagues had been forcibly deported from Jordan.
In Amman, a government statement said the detainees were$?'allowed to go to Qatar' by the emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani, after $?'consultations' with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jasem al-Thani, told Al- Jazeerah that the Hamas leaders were$?'welcome as guests in Qatar, but we will not allow any political activity from the country.'
Amman's official statement said Jordan$?'does not accept any presence of any political or information offices for Hamas on Jordanian territories and will strongly confront any attempt to infiltrate our arena, or to use it outside the framework of Jordanian law and national interests.'
Jordan launched a crackdown against Hamas in late August, arresting the four leaders and 20 aides and closing down five offices in the capital.
The authorities on Sunday released the other 20 detainees and dropped charges against them. They had been charged with belonging to an illegal organization, possessing illegal weapons and carrying out illegal activities.
Defense lawyers last week quoted the Hamas leaders as saying they would rather stand trial than be deported or give up their affiliation with the movement so as to remain in Jordan.
Lawyers and political activists have condemned the government's action, saying the constitution forbids the deportation of Jordanian citizens.
They warned that the expulsion sets a dangerous precedent of $?'allowing the government to deport any Jordanian who opposes its policies.'
