Extremist cleric Abu Qatada pled not guilty to terrorism charges, and challenged the authority of the court. He was previously tried and sentenced in absentia by Jordan in 1999 and 2000, but has a right to retrial while present. After a brief hearing, the judge adjourned the trial until Dec. 24. Yesterday a court sentenced a Jordanian man to five years’ hard labor for illegally entering Syria and fighting there.
