Jordanian detained for torching monarch's photo

A young activist was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on charges of “undermining the King’s dignity” after torching Jordanian King Abdullah II's picture in front of the town hall in Madaba. Uday Abu Issa had started a hunger strike on Sunday, according to his father.   Uday’s father called for the monarch’s immediate intervention to save his son’s life, whose health soon started deteriorating. Uday reportedly started the hunger strike for the second time after being locked in solitary confinement and receiving “inhumane” treatment. The activist's defence lawyer Moussa Al-Abdallat stated that Uday ended his first strike after a deal was made with the National Centre for Human Rights requiring his discharge from solitary confinement, however, the prison authorities did not commit to their part of the deal. Abdallat demanded Uday's release and transfer to a hospital, saying his trial was "not fair”, and warning that “solitary confinement breeds a vengeful personality”. He further criticised the performance of the National Centre for Human Rights with regards to political prisoners, indicating that no report was issued on Uday’s case, despite him being subjected to violence. He accused the centre of yielding to higher authorities.