Although the Jordanian government never stops bragging about respecting freedom of the press, it never stops violating freedom of expression and press freedom.

Various types of repression took place, for instance, filing lawsuits, amending cybercrime law to aggravate penalties in publishing cases, not to mention the increase of banning decrees concerning publishing, which is considered a grave obstacle hindering the right of knowledge and access to information.

Violations against Journalists

• On the 16th of January, journalists Omar al-Mahrma and Shadi al-Zaiati were arrested on the background of a lawsuit filed by, Omar Melhes, Minister of Finance. The lawsuit came after the two journalists published a piece of news claiming that Melhes did not submit all his data in his tax return when he was assigned as a minister of finance. The journalists were detained for one week, but their syndicate put pressure and their colleagues staged a sit-in until they were released pending the case.
• On the 4th of September: Security forces stormed the house of Mossaab al-Showabka and Mohamed Ghobari, without a judicial warrant. The house was searched under the pretext of “suspecting the neighboring apartment”.

Showabka Case, met a vivid reaction among his fellow journalists, as he is known for his fierce criticism against the government. Showabka submitted a complaint to the judiciary against security forces which breached the privacy of his home.

• On the 13th of September: Amman Court issued a verdict against, Hussein al Sharaa, a journalist in “al Raai” paper, to imprison him for 6 months (maximum penalty) on the background of a lawsuit filed by the directorate of general security. The verdict was handed down in the absence of the defendant’s lawyer.

The case goes back to the 19th of July 2018, as Sharaa posted on his Facebook account narrating the details of a problem that took place between him and a police patrol that intercepted his way and insulted him to show his ID. Eventually, the director of general security sent a letter to the Journalists Syndicate, demanding permission to investigate Sharaa. On 22nd of July, the syndicate decided that Sharaa should be under investigation referring him to a disciplinary board. He was sentenced to 6 months in prison on the 13th of September. On the 20th of September, The Court of Appeal released Hussein Sheraa pending judiciary procedures. The court has not reached a final decision in the case until now.

• On 23rd September: Security forces arrest Mohamed al Kafawin, al Roeia channel reporter while covering a security raid near al Kark castle, as he was prevented from taking photos, all his equipment was confiscated, afterward, he was arrested. The day after he was released without pressing any charges. It is worth mentioning that he was injured while he was being forced into the police car.
• On 30th November 2018: Omar al Dahamsha, a journalist in the Jordanian News Agency, underwent an assault by security forces while covering a sit-in in Jordan Hospital square near the cabinet of ministers, although he was wearing the press badge.

Despite Dahamsha showed his ID, they did not respond positively, dragging him, tearing up his clothes and his badge then they went on beating him.

Protesters tried to save him from security forces, but he was dragged 10 meters away, until his colleagues went to the forces, confirming that he is a journalist in the Jordanian News Agency, and so they released him.

Publication Ban

Jordanian authorities issued a number of publication ban decrees throughout 2018 in an attempt to cover a number of incidents.

• On 17 June, the General Attorney of Integrity and Combating Corruption Authority, Ali Abo Zeid, called for a publication ban in al Esraa Islamic Investment and Fund Shareholding Company case.

It is worth mentioning that the company case was referred to the competent general attorney with a number of cases by Integrity and Combating Corruption Authority.

• On 27t October, the Public Prosecution issued a publication ban concerning the flash floods which killed 21 persons, mostly school pupils, 37 children in a private school in Amman and seven teachers who were in a trip to the hot spring near the Dead Sea western Amman.

Amending the Cybercrime Law

The Jordanian ministry council, on 21st May, passed amendments in the cybercrime law issued in 2015. The amendments were sent to the parliament. It includes numerous articles to restrict freedom of expression, along with loose definitions for some crimes, like hate speech, which was defined as follows: “Every speech or act that might arise civil, religious, sectarian, ethnic or regional strife or discrimination between groups and individuals”. Whoever is convicted with hate speech is doomed to be imprisoned for 3 years along with a fine of 10 thousand Dinar (14 thousand Dollar).

The law also imposes penalties on whoever shares news including defaming. That is to say, individuals are going to be punished for a facebook share.

Violating against the right of collective expression (demonstrating)

Starting from the 29th of May to the 4th of June, security forces arrested around 60 Jordanians while participating in protests took place in Jordan for one week against austerity and the new tax law which led to an increase in prices.

Security forces used violence and teargas to disperse protesters, causing dozens of cases of suffocation.

Dozens of regions in Jordan witnessed protests in which around 40 thousand citizens participated against austerity policies, tax law, passing laws in the parliament which caused the increase of prices. The king fulfilled the demonstrators’ demands and dismissed Hany al Molqi’s government. Though, demonstrators continued their protest to withdraw the new tax law. The situation ended with freezing the draft and releasing all detainees arrested during demonstrations.

On the 22nd of October, security forces arrested, Sabri al Mashaala and Saad al Alawin, activists, following demonstrations burst out on 20th October rejecting austerity policies and the Monetary Fund conditions, a movement which named itself “Dhriban”

The two activists were transformed to al Jowaida prison. On the 29th of November, Mashaala was released, while Alawin was kept in prison with the accusation of opposing the regime.

Violations against Bloggers and Activists

• On 10th June, security forces arrested, Fares Zaher al Fayes, an opposition figure, on the background of a speech he gave during the 30th May demonstrations.

In a voice record claimed to be of Fares Zaher al Fayez, he said that the King and his family are responsible for the destruction and poverty of Jordan. The activist was confined in Marka prison, in Amman, under the accusation of opposing the governing political regime in Jordan. Fares was released 6 days later after he aired an apology to the King.

• On 16th November, security forces arrested Secretary of the board of trustees of believers without borders institution under the accusation of false complain of being kidnapped and tortured by unknown individuals. The prosecution decided to detain him for 15 days.

Secretary of believers without borders, Yunis Qandil, announced on the first of November, that he was kidnapped and tortured by masked individuals. Security forces found Yunis thrown in the woods near al Zarqa, it showed that he was being beaten, tortured and on his body, with sharp weapons, it was written “Muslims without borders”, on the background of a conference which he planned to hold in Amman at the beginning of November, but it was canceled by the Ministry of Interior.

Preventive Security held an investigation and concluded that Yunis Qandil’s claims are false. The authority body prepared a report on 14th November claiming that Qandil is lying, therefore he was referred to investigations. The prosecution decided to detain him for 15 days under investigations. Moreover, the institution froze Yunis membership and dismissed him from his post.

“Believers without borders” institution planned to hold a conference titled “Blocks of Muslim societies and new Islamic narrative”. The conference was disputable especially that one of the papers submitted in the conference was titled “God’s history in Islam”

• On 29th November, security forces arrested 3 students who are members of the youth committee in al Tahrir party, which is a banned party in Jordan.

Security forces arrested the following young men: Ahmed Abo-Eid, Mohamed Abo al Assal who study Fiqh (Islamic studies) in the Jordanian University, along with Mahmoud Momataz who study mechanical engineering in Philadelphia University. The prosecution issued a decision to release them, yet, they are still detained.