Over the past week, two rallies in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham were held in Maan, the first such public demonstrations for the group in Jordan. Salafi jihadist leader Mohammad Shalabi a.k.a. Abu Sayyaf reportedly convinced the ISIS demonstrators to tone down their activities. Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups have in the past been allowed to operate in Jordan, ostensibly so authorities can monitor and infiltrate them. Authorities recently said the country’s borders are secure, and denied reports that ISIS had taken over the strategic Turaibil crossing into Iraq.
