The sentencing by the state security court raised to 50 the number of extremists jailed by Jordanian authorities over links to Syrian militant groups since December. The government has been seeking to wrestle control over a growing number of radical fighters.

According to Jordanian Salafist groups, some 2,200 Jordanians are currently fighting as members of radical factions in Syria, including Jabhat al-Nusra, associated with al-Qaeda, and the even more extremist militant group of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Recently introduced anti-terror legislation has granted Amman broad powers to detain citizens linked to foreign terrorist organizations.

Rights groups have been critical of the extent of the dragnet and alleged abuses by security forces.

Last week, ISIL published a video depicting a Jordanian citizen burning his passport and threatening to carry out attacks against the country's security forces, marking the first direct threat from a Syria-based militias.

NJF/NJF