Peaceful assembly
Targeting activists before and after protests
On 9th April 2024, authorities arrested Syrian refugees and students, Atiya Mohammad Abu Salem and Wael al-Ashi, while they were on their way to film the Palestine solidarity protest. According to Human Right Watch, authorities coerced Abu Salem into letting them search his phone, and repeatedly threatened to deport him. Following this, the Ministry of Interior issued deportation orders for them. On 22nd April 2024, an Administrative Court in Amman rejected an urgent request to halt the deportation of both men. An appeal to the court challenging the deportation orders is pending.
Expression
Cybercrimes- law used to silence dissent
In light of the first anniversary of the Cybercrimes law, several human rights organisation, including Article 19, called on the Parliament to repeal the law or substantially amend it to ensure that it fully complies with international human rights law and standards on freedom of expression, privacy and due process. As previously documented, amendments to the 2015 Cybercrimes law, broadened the scope of criminal offences which give authorities broad powers to crackdown on freedom of expression.
According to Amnesty International, the authorities have “weaponised” the new Cybercrimes Law to target journalists, activists and others for expressing opinions online that are critical of government policies and practices. The organisation has documented the cases of 15 individuals who were prosecuted under the new law after criticising the authorities online.
Reporters without borders issued a statement noting that:
“In Jordan’s current political climate, journalists reporting on certain citizens’ discontent with the government face legal prosecution under the country’s cybercrime law.”
Activist Fatima Shubeilat was arrested at a shopping mall, without prior notice, after a video was circulated on social media of her participating in a Palestine solidarity sit-in near the Israeli embassy in Amman in March 2024. Shubeilat was initially charged with “unlawful gathering”, “resisting security personnel” and “insulting a public official” under articles 165, 185 and 196 of the Penal Code. While the public prosecutor initially agreed to release her on bail, the Cybercrimes Unit initiated another separate case against her under articles 15 and 17 of the Cybercrimes Law. On 30th April 2024, she was released on bail and her trial for both cases is still pending.
On 22nd July 2024, lawyer and activist Moutaz Awwad was convicted of “provoking sedition or strife” under article 17 of the Cybercrimes Law and fined 5,000 Jordanian Dinars (around 7,000 USD) for posts on X, formerly Twitter, in which he criticised the policies of Arab countries towards Israel and expressed support for the Palestinian cause. Amnesty International also noted that there were due process violations as the appeals court confirmed the verdict and sentence on the same day without holding a public hearing.
On 24th April 2024, activist Samer al-Qassem was arrested over a TikTok video about Palestinian refugees. On 14 May 2024, Al-Qassem was released on bail. However, the Amman governor requested his administrative detention for one month. On 30th June 2024, he was sentenced to three months in prison and fined 5000 JOD (around 7000 USD) under the Cybercrimes Law for “using social media platforms to provoke sedition and threaten societal peace”.
Journalists also convicted under Cybercrimes law
Palestinian-Jordanian Journalist Hiba Abu Taha, who is currently serving a one-year sentence in a centre, south of Amman, is the first journalist to receive a prison sentence under the Cybercrimes law. Abu Taha wrote an article which criticised Jordan’s interception of Iranian missiles headed to Israel in April 2024. In response, the Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh accused her of “fabrication”. On 11th June 2024, she was convicted by a court for using social media platforms to “spread false news, or insult or defame a governmental authority or official body”, and for “inciting strife or sedition or threatening societal peace or inciting hatred or violence.” Taha was arrested in May 2024 following a complaint by Jordan’s Media Commission.
On 2nd July 2024, satirical journalist Ahmed Hassan al-Zoubi and publisher of the Sawalif news website was arrested by the authorities for "inciting discord among community members," a crime under Article 17 of the Cybercrimes law, . In August 2023, Al-Zoubi was already sentenced to one year in prison (under the Cybercrimes law) for a Facebook post which criticised the government’s position on a controversial December 2022 transportation workers’ strike, however he was not taken into custody until July 2024. In a statement, Reporters without Borders (RSF) called for his immediate release and the repeal of the repressive Cybercrimes law.
Crackdown on journalists covering Palestine solidarity protests
In a statement, Reporters without Borders (RSF) raised concerns about the intimidation and detention of journalists covering protests in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine.
On 30th March 2024 authorities arrested freelance photojournalist Ahmad Mohsen, professionally known as Sherbel Dissi, while he was covering a Palestine solidarity protest outside the Israeli embassy. The authorities accused the journalist of “participating in an illegal gathering.” According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Mohsen was wearing a press vest and had a press badge. In April 2024, the governor of Amman ordered Mohsen’s administrative detention and he was released on bail on 19th April 2024.
On 21st March 2024 Abdul Jabbar Zeitoun was arrested by police as a demonstrator, even though he identified as journalist. He was released after seven days in detention. On 26 March Arabic Post journalist Khair Al-Jabri was also arrested and accused of not having a press card. Another journalist told RSF that she was summoned and questioned about her “thoughts on Palestine and Jordan.” She was forced to sign a pledge to not “participate in demonstrations” that could “endanger the security of the country”. Her home was also searched by the police.
RSF also reported that journalists have been forced to take “precautionary measures”. It stated: “This climate of liberticide increasingly forces journalists to adopt precautionary measures to avoid being caught in a situation deemed suspicious by the police”. Examples include journalists staying in the middle of the protest crowd to avoid being arrested by the authorities.
Separately, on 7th May 2024, the authorities stormed the offices of Al-Yarmouk Television in Amman, confiscated the broadcaster’s equipment, and banned its employees from re-entering the channel’s offices. It is reported that the channel was closed due to “unauthorised activity and broadcasting from Jordan without obtaining official governmental approvals. “According Al-Yarmouk, it had filed for a Jordanian license that was yet to be approved. This is not the first time that the channel has faced closures.