Jordan / Middle East & North Africa

  

CPJ calls for an investigation into the targeting of journalists with Pegasus spyware in Jordan

Beirut, February 1, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is highly alarmed by the targeting of journalists with Pegasus spyware in Jordan and repeats its calls for an immediate moratorium on the sale, transfer, and use of such surveillance technologies, as well as a ban on spyware and its vendors that facilitate human rights…

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New Jordanian cybercrime law criminalizes ‘fake news’ online

Beirut, August 15, 2023—In response to Jordanian authorities passing a new cybercrime law that threatens press freedom online, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The new cybercrime law approved by Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein is alarming, and could see journalists facing harsh prison terms and huge fines over…

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Jordanian journalist Adnan Al-Rousan arrested over critical columns posted on Facebook 

Beirut, August 18, 2022 – Jordanian authorities should immediately release journalist Adnan Al-Rousan and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.  On Monday, August 15, seven unidentified men, including two in military uniform, arrested Al-Rousan, a prominent Jordanian columnist who writes critically about the government on Facebook, from his home in…

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At least 2 Jordanian journalists targeted by Pegasus spyware

Beirut, April 6, 2022 – Jordanian authorities should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into allegations that two journalists were targeted with Pegasus spyware, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Throughout 2021, Suhair Jaradat, a freelance columnist for media outlets including the London-based Arabic news website Today’s Opinion, was repeatedly targeted by the spyware,…

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Why the UN’s push for a cybercrime treaty could imperil journalists simply for using the internet

Cybercrime is on the global agenda as a United Nations committee appointed to develop a treaty on the topic plans for its first meeting amid pandemic-related delays. The process is slated to take at least two years, but experts warn that such a treaty – initially proposed by Russia – could hand new tools to…

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Syrian journalist Ibrahim Awad arrested, held in refugee camp in Jordan

New York, November 22, 2021 — Jordanian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Syrian freelance journalist Ibrahim Awad and allow journalists to do their job freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 15, four Jordanian police and intelligence officers raided Awad’s home in the Tla al-Ali neighborhood…

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Jordan issues ban on media coverage of royal family dispute

New York, April 6, 2021 – Jordanian authorities should allow journalists and media outlets to report freely on all issues, and should rescind a ban on coverage of a dispute within the royal family, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. “Whenever there is a hint of a sensitive story, Jordanian authorities’ first instinct is…

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Ten years after the Arab Spring, the region’s media faces grave threats. Here are the top press freedom trends

In early February 2011, Alaa Abdelfattah was in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, documenting and participating in the nascent pro-democracy uprising that would topple the government and transform the country and the region. Today, he is in prison on anti-state and false news charges, which his family believes are partly retaliatory for his work. Abdelfattah is one of…

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Jordan must release publisher Jamal Haddad immediately

New York, December 27, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Jordanian authorities to release Jamal Haddad, publisher of the news website Alwakaai, and condemns the use of a national security prosecution to censor coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.  On December 24, Haddad was summoned and detained pending investigation under the country’s anti-terrorism law…

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Jordanian security forces arrest cartoonist Emad Hajjaj over criticism of Israel-UAE deal

New York, August 27, 2020 — Jordanian authorities should immediately release cartoonist Emad Hajjaj, drop all charges against him, and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, a police patrol arrested Hajjaj, a cartoonist for the Qatari-funded news website Al-Araby al-Jadeed, on the Jordan Valley road while the cartoonist was…

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