HRW urges Jordan to probe death of Syria arms sale suspect

Human Rights Watch urged Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh on Wednesday to probe the death in custody of a 20-year-old Jordanian man, who allegedly helped two Syrians buy arms.

It called for an “independent inquiry into the death of Najem Zubi ... when in detention at the military intelligence offices in Amman, on November 16, 2011,” in a letter to the prime minister.

“To date, we are not aware of any investigation being launched into the case by a military prosecutor,” said the letter from Christoph Wilcke, a HRW senior researcher.

Wilcke added that even if the military were to investigate, HRW would continue to urge an independent inquiry “since military justice in Jordan lacks the requisite measure of independence.”

“HRW urges the prime minister to establish an independent inquiry, whose members should include representatives from (Jordan’s) National Centre for Human Rights, and that regularly reports to the family of the deceased and to the public,” said the letter.

Jordanian officials have said Zubi, a taxi driver from the northern town of Ramtha, was arrested along with two Syrians whom he took to an arms dealer, adding that he “hanged himself with his bedding” while in detention.

His uncle, who is a physician, attended an autopsy and said “the cause of death was asphyxiation.”

Zubi’s death sparked violent reaction from his relatives, who belong to one of the largest tribes in northern Jordan. Accusing the authorities of killing the man, his family blocked a road to neighbouring Syria after setting fire to the governor’s offices, the courthouse and a police car.

Residents of Ramtha, which lies across the border from the restive Syrian city of Daraa, often smuggle clothes, food and other goods across the frontier.

But border controls have been stepped up since the outbreak of a deadly anti-regime revolt in Syria in March.