Jordanian authorities have fired eight professors who refused orders to end their support of suicide bombings against Israeli and Western targets.
Jordanian sources said the instructors, all of whom taught Islamic studies, insisted on terming suicide-bombers as martyrs despite warnings from university authorities. The sources said the dismissals were meant to warn Islamists in universities to end anti-government activities, the World Tribune newspaper reported.
Five of the dismissed professors came from the University of Jordan in Amman. Two others taught in Muta University in Maan and one came from Yarmouk University. The Muslim Brotherhood has termed the dismissals the result of U.S. pressure. The movement, which has tried to organize anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli protests, said the dismissals would not intimidate fundamentalists.
"If this is meant to punish us for our positions, it is not going to change my stance," Ahmad Awaisheh, one of those dismissed from the University of Jordan, said. (Albawaba.com)
