JORDAN

Country Summary

Jordan displayed increasing intolerance for critical journalism, unleashing a long-anticipated clampdown against the opposition press. In August, authorities arrested five journalists from the weekly Al-Bilad and charged them with “inciting sedition” for reporting on demonstrations near the southern city of al-Karak protesting a government decision to raise the price of bread. Several other opposition journalists were also arrested following the events, and many still face the prospect of prosecution and prison. In November, King Hussein declared an amnesty for those individuals involved in the riots. But at the end of the year it was still unclear whether authorities would drop the charges against journalists.

The state has continued to prosecute outspoken journalists under the restrictive 1993 Press and Publications Law, which broadly criminalizes any news that “offends the King or the Royal Family,” or that "damages national unity” and “foments hatred.” State prosecutors, exploiting the law’s vague language, targeted journalists across a broad political spectrum with libel suits, detaining, charging, and inflicting heavy monetary penalties on those who went too far in their criticism of the state.

In two instances, however, the government showed an inclination to curb its repressive policies. One positive development was the decision to forgo increasing the severity of the penalties under the Press and Publications Law. The government also put on hold proposed changes to the Journalists Association Law designed to stiffen professional requirements for journalists. Nevertheless, Jordanian journalists face an uncertain future. “It is still difficult to know what to expect from this government,” said the editor in chief of a weekly newspaper. “Look at what happened in August.”

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