August 25, 2014
Osama Al Sharif
Source: Al- Monitor
On Aug. 14, the Jordanian government announced that it would ask parliament to approve two constitutional amendments giving
the king sole authority to appoint the head of the armed forces and
director of the kingdom’s General Intelligence Department (GID). Almost
three years ago, in October 2011, in response to public protests calling
for political reforms, King Abdullah II had approved a number of constitutional amendments that
curtailed some of his powers and allowed for the creation of a
Constitutional Court and an Independent Elections Commission.
These reforms were hailed as a major step toward full constitutional
monarchy. Jordan’s version of the Arab Spring was largely peaceful and
bloodless, and Abdullah was able to project himself as a champion of political reforms that would lead, according to statements made in June 2011, to the formation of parliamentary governments. That promise remains to be fulfilled.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s Islamic Action Front (IAF) boycotted the 2013 legislative elections,
and other political parties performed poorly, failing to fill the
vacuum. Weak and unpopular, the parties' presence in the current Lower
House, comprised mostly of independents, is modest. The government of
Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour,
appointed by Abdullah in October 2012, was supposed to include elected
deputies as a precursor to the formation of parliamentary governments.
To date, however, Ensour has failed to fulfill that pledge, probably due
to royal objections.
It is clear that Abdullah instructed Ensour to handle the two
constitutional amendments. Under the current constitution, the
government recommends the appointees for head of the armed forces and
GID director, and the king approves them through royal decree. The
king had asked the prime minister on Aug. 12 to “activate” the Ministry of Defense,
whose portfolio has been handled directly by the prime minister for
decades. In effect, the portfolio will now be managed by a civilian or a
retired army officer. The king said the new ministry will handle
“political, economic, legal and logistical duties related to national
defense … and nonmilitary services … while allowing the armed forces to
dedicate its time to professional military duties.”
The government is rushing the two amendments through parliament,
which has been convened in an extraordinary session. The timing and
reasons for the amendments, described by Ensour as important reforms
that will enhance Jordan’s democratic process, were not made clear.
Pundits rushed to explain the surprise move. Clearly Abdullah is looking
to expand his authority, making sure that the decision to appoint and
fire the heads of two very sensitive institutions remains his alone.
Critics of the move did not waste time making their points. In
general, they saw the move as a violation of the constitution and a
derogation of the general mandate of the government. A number of retired
army officers issued a statement denouncing the action, describing it
as “an attack on the constitution and a challenge to the will of the people, who are the source of all authorities.”
Mohammad al-Hammouri,
a respected constitutional expert and former justice minister, wrote on
Aug. 19, “Giving the king exclusive powers to appoint the heads of the
armed forces and GID constitutes an abrogation of the parliamentary
system and a coup against the constitution, effectively turning Jordan
from a constitutional monarchy to a presidential monarchy.”
He added that the Jordanian system of government is based on the
principle of separation of powers, with the people being the source of
authority. He added that the only exclusive power that the king has is
to prevent amendment of the constitution, while the authority to run the
state’s domestic and foreign affairs is tied directly to the Council of
Ministers.
Showing posts with label Jordanian Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jordanian Government. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Jordanian throws shoes at PM over price hikes
15 April 2014
By Staff writer
Al Arabiya News
Authorities arrested a Jordanian on Monday after he threw a pair of shoes at Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur, along with five cabinet ministers, during a ceremony in the northern city of Jerash, an official said.
“The prime minister was talking about the economy, when Mefleh Mahasneh, 65, head of the Jerash countryside society that was attending the event, stood up and told the prime minister: ‘You raised the prices’,” the municipality official told Agence France-Presse.
“The mayor told Mahasneh to stop because it was not his turn to talk. Mahasneh, an army retiree, got angry and took off his shoe and threw it towards the stage on which the prime minister and the ministers were sitting.”
Mahasneh then took off his other shoe and threw it in the same direction. “The pair of shoes landed on a table on the stage. Police then arrested Mahasneh.
“I think he was detained for his own protection because some attendees threatened to take action against him,” added the official.
A wave of nationwide protests and strikes were sparked after Nsur’s government raised fuel prices, including house gas, by up to 52 percent in November 2012. The price surge was imposed to help cut a government deficit of 3.5 billion dinars (around $5bn), AFP reported.
Jordanians also took to the streets to protest growing unemployment and poverty rates, and demanded political and economic reforms in the kingdom as well as anti-corruption efforts.
Security personnel present at the event gathered footage of the incident so as to prevent its dissemination in the media, local news outlets reported.
(With AFP)
Link: .alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/04/15/Jordanian-throws-shoes-at-prime-minister-over-price-rise.html.
By Staff writer
Al Arabiya News
Authorities arrested a Jordanian on Monday after he threw a pair of shoes at Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur, along with five cabinet ministers, during a ceremony in the northern city of Jerash, an official said.
“The prime minister was talking about the economy, when Mefleh Mahasneh, 65, head of the Jerash countryside society that was attending the event, stood up and told the prime minister: ‘You raised the prices’,” the municipality official told Agence France-Presse.
“The mayor told Mahasneh to stop because it was not his turn to talk. Mahasneh, an army retiree, got angry and took off his shoe and threw it towards the stage on which the prime minister and the ministers were sitting.”
Mahasneh then took off his other shoe and threw it in the same direction. “The pair of shoes landed on a table on the stage. Police then arrested Mahasneh.
“I think he was detained for his own protection because some attendees threatened to take action against him,” added the official.
A wave of nationwide protests and strikes were sparked after Nsur’s government raised fuel prices, including house gas, by up to 52 percent in November 2012. The price surge was imposed to help cut a government deficit of 3.5 billion dinars (around $5bn), AFP reported.
Jordanians also took to the streets to protest growing unemployment and poverty rates, and demanded political and economic reforms in the kingdom as well as anti-corruption efforts.
Security personnel present at the event gathered footage of the incident so as to prevent its dissemination in the media, local news outlets reported.
(With AFP)
Link: .alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/04/15/Jordanian-throws-shoes-at-prime-minister-over-price-rise.html.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Jordanian parliament gives the government a week to expel the Israeli ambassador
13 March 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
The majority of the Jordanian House of Representatives voted yesterday to seek the release of soldier Ahmad Adakkamsh, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Amman and recalling his Jordanian counterpart from Tel Aviv.
The majority of attendees agreed on the demands that were raised during the discussion of the members of the House of Representatives who were discussing the issue of the death of Judge Raed Zeiter, but other members of parliament protested against these demands.
The parliament approved, with a majority, the request of the Jordanian Attorney General to file a case against the commander of the Israeli army, which was done on Tuesday.
The parliament has decided twice to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman and recall his Jordanian counterpart from Tel Aviv, as well as two requests that were previously made for the release of Adakkamsh.
The House of Representatives rejected the proposal of MP Musa Abu Sweilem to reopen the offices of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas in Jordan.
The MPs have given the government until next Tuesday to implement the parliamentary recommendations, threatening to topple it if it does not comply with the MPs' decisions.
The parliament demanded the release of Jordanian and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, informing the MPs about developments concerning the issue of martyr Zeiter, holding a thorough investigation and bringing killers before the International Criminal Court, imposing a Jordanian-Palestinian control over the Palestinian side of the border crossings, and taking the initiative to achieve reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.
Israel expressed regret for the killing of the Jordanian judge, who is of Palestinian origin, by its soldiers on Monday. Zeiter was killed on Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.
Following this incident, Jordan witnessed many demonstrations and events condemning the execution of Zeiter, where participants and protesters demanded cutting ties with Israel.
Link: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10291-jordanian-parliament-gives-the-government-a-week-to-expel-the-israeli-ambassador.
Source: Middle East Monitor
The majority of the Jordanian House of Representatives voted yesterday to seek the release of soldier Ahmad Adakkamsh, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Amman and recalling his Jordanian counterpart from Tel Aviv.
The majority of attendees agreed on the demands that were raised during the discussion of the members of the House of Representatives who were discussing the issue of the death of Judge Raed Zeiter, but other members of parliament protested against these demands.
The parliament approved, with a majority, the request of the Jordanian Attorney General to file a case against the commander of the Israeli army, which was done on Tuesday.
The parliament has decided twice to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman and recall his Jordanian counterpart from Tel Aviv, as well as two requests that were previously made for the release of Adakkamsh.
The House of Representatives rejected the proposal of MP Musa Abu Sweilem to reopen the offices of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas in Jordan.
The MPs have given the government until next Tuesday to implement the parliamentary recommendations, threatening to topple it if it does not comply with the MPs' decisions.
The parliament demanded the release of Jordanian and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, informing the MPs about developments concerning the issue of martyr Zeiter, holding a thorough investigation and bringing killers before the International Criminal Court, imposing a Jordanian-Palestinian control over the Palestinian side of the border crossings, and taking the initiative to achieve reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.
Israel expressed regret for the killing of the Jordanian judge, who is of Palestinian origin, by its soldiers on Monday. Zeiter was killed on Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.
Following this incident, Jordan witnessed many demonstrations and events condemning the execution of Zeiter, where participants and protesters demanded cutting ties with Israel.
Link: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10291-jordanian-parliament-gives-the-government-a-week-to-expel-the-israeli-ambassador.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Israel is exerting efforts to end crisis with Jordan after killing Palestinian judge
11 March 2014
Middle East Monitor
Israel is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to sort out the crisis with Jordan after occupation forces killed on Monday morning a Palestinian judge who holds Jordanian citizenship, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday.
The report did not mention the source of its information or describe what kinds of diplomatic efforts are being exerted to end the crisis.
Israeli occupation forces shot to death judge Raed Za'eiter, aged 38, while he was entering Allenby Bridge between Jordan and the occupied West Bank. Israeli army commander Yaron Beit On told reporters that Za'eiter had attempted to snatch the rifle of an Israeli soldier.
The Jordanian government demanded immediate investigations into the judge's death. The Israeli foreign ministry replied that an investigation into the incident has already started and Amman would be informed about the findings as soon as the probe was completed.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh summoned on Monday Israel's acting ambassador in Amman to express his country's deep concern about the killing.
Another Jordanian official noted that the incident has put Jordanian-Israeli relations at stake. The official, who preferred anonymity, said that: "Diplomatic channels witnessed hot contacts on Monday, including serious protests from Jordan and a demand to punish the perpetrators."
The official added that what is increasing Jordan's anger is the timing of the crime, which coincides with declining Jordanian-Israeli relations due to Israel's escalating violations against the holy sites in Jerusalem and the Knesset's proposed draft resolution to revoke Jordan's custodianship over them.
Jordanian security forces forcefully dispersed a demonstration against the judge's killing in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman. Protesters called for an end to Jordanian-Israeli relations and demanded the dismissal of the Israeli ambassador in Amman and recalling his counterpart in Tel-Aviv.
Jordan and Israel have maintained official relations since 1994, when the peace accord known as Wadi Araba was signed.
Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10238-israel-is-exerting-efforts-to-end-crisis-with-jordan-after-killing-palestinian-judge.
Middle East Monitor
Israel is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to sort out the crisis with Jordan after occupation forces killed on Monday morning a Palestinian judge who holds Jordanian citizenship, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday.
The report did not mention the source of its information or describe what kinds of diplomatic efforts are being exerted to end the crisis.
Israeli occupation forces shot to death judge Raed Za'eiter, aged 38, while he was entering Allenby Bridge between Jordan and the occupied West Bank. Israeli army commander Yaron Beit On told reporters that Za'eiter had attempted to snatch the rifle of an Israeli soldier.
The Jordanian government demanded immediate investigations into the judge's death. The Israeli foreign ministry replied that an investigation into the incident has already started and Amman would be informed about the findings as soon as the probe was completed.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh summoned on Monday Israel's acting ambassador in Amman to express his country's deep concern about the killing.
Another Jordanian official noted that the incident has put Jordanian-Israeli relations at stake. The official, who preferred anonymity, said that: "Diplomatic channels witnessed hot contacts on Monday, including serious protests from Jordan and a demand to punish the perpetrators."
The official added that what is increasing Jordan's anger is the timing of the crime, which coincides with declining Jordanian-Israeli relations due to Israel's escalating violations against the holy sites in Jerusalem and the Knesset's proposed draft resolution to revoke Jordan's custodianship over them.
Jordanian security forces forcefully dispersed a demonstration against the judge's killing in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman. Protesters called for an end to Jordanian-Israeli relations and demanded the dismissal of the Israeli ambassador in Amman and recalling his counterpart in Tel-Aviv.
Jordan and Israel have maintained official relations since 1994, when the peace accord known as Wadi Araba was signed.
Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/10238-israel-is-exerting-efforts-to-end-crisis-with-jordan-after-killing-palestinian-judge.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Simmering anger among Jordan opposition
24 August 2012
By Shaimaa Khalil BBC News, Amman
Source: BBC News Middle East
Egypt and Tunisia have become examples of how political Islam continues to gain clout in the wake of the Arab Spring.
In Syria there are many questions about what a post Bashar al-Assad leadership will look like and whether the Muslim Brotherhood will finally find their way to power there.
But in Jordan it is a different story. Despite being the largest and most organised opposition force, here the Muslim Brotherhood struggle to gain any political power.
Their aim is to follow the lead of their parent movement in Egypt.
After 80 years, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are not just a part of mainstream politics. They are the mainstream; Egypt's new president Mohammed Mursi comes from the heart of the movement.
The Brotherhood in Jordan are different. For one, they have never been as harshly persecuted by the system as their Egyptian counterparts.
But they have also never seemed to gain as much political power.
They rally people in the streets in big numbers. But the peaceful demonstrations, as they always describe them, seem to go no further.
Flawed law?
The Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), has been organising the rallies for over a year now.
The demands have been the same since the demonstrations began: political reform, fighting corruption and modifying Jordan's controversial election law.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
We will not take part in forged elections”
Hamza Mansour Islamic Action Front
The Brotherhood claim the law does not allow fair representation.
Hamza Mansour, secretary general of the IAF, insists that they will boycott early parliamentary elections due by the end of the year.
"We will not take part in forged elections. This elections law does exactly that," he said.
"We have agreed on another draft law with the other political powers that gives a fair representation, taking into consideration each constituency's population and geography."
The Brotherhood have a very large support base in some of the constituencies and were planning to field more than one candidate in the hope of more seats in the parliament.
But the election law does not allow them to do so as it only allows one vote per constituency.
Their opponents say the Muslim Brotherhood want a law that serves them and only them.
But this is not Jordan's only problem and the Muslim Brotherhood is not the only strand of opposition here.
Poster-burning
Anger on the street led to what many Jordanians here called "the unthinkable".
Oday Abu Issa is a 19-year-old Jordanian student who describes himself as part of a popular youth opposition movement.
He was jailed for two months after burning a poster of King Abdullah last January.
This was the first incident of its kind and Oday says he wanted to send a message to the leadership.
"They continue to marginalise the opposition forces," he says.
"They don't recognise any opposition movement except the Islamists. This will provoke even more anger in the street.
"Opposition is not just the Islamists. We have nationalist, leftist, popular and youth movements, and they need to talk to all of us."
But unlike Egypt and Tunisia, the youth movements in Jordan have so far not been able to make a real difference.
They are still not popular or relevant enough on the Jordanian street.
"The problem is we still don't have a clear plan and a comprehensive programme," Oday says.
"There are many of us and we come from different backgrounds. We need a clear roadmap to unite us."
Tribal anger
The deteriorating economy and the diminishing role of the public sector have affected other groups of Jordanian society, including the tribes, who have always been known for their allegiance to the King and the government.
Jumana Ghneimat is editor-in-chief of the Jordanian Ghad newspaper. She says the anger among the tribes is a dangerous development.
"The tribes feel abandoned.
"They have long depended on a support system that has been provided to them by the King and the government and now they are asked to depend on themselves without the proper means to do so."
She goes on: "It started for economic reasons but now, they too are asking for political change.
"I think that the leadership's problems with the tribes are much more dangerous than its political brawls with the Muslim Brotherhood."
The government meanwhile has said that it will not change the election law and that it is up to the Muslim Brotherhood and the rest of the opposition to take part in the political process.
But this does not satisfy an already very frustrated public, who see no end in sight for their economic problems.
Jordan's limited resources are being stretched still further with the growing number of Syrian refugees entering the country every day.
By Shaimaa Khalil BBC News, Amman
Source: BBC News Middle East
Egypt and Tunisia have become examples of how political Islam continues to gain clout in the wake of the Arab Spring.
In Syria there are many questions about what a post Bashar al-Assad leadership will look like and whether the Muslim Brotherhood will finally find their way to power there.
But in Jordan it is a different story. Despite being the largest and most organised opposition force, here the Muslim Brotherhood struggle to gain any political power.
Their aim is to follow the lead of their parent movement in Egypt.
After 80 years, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are not just a part of mainstream politics. They are the mainstream; Egypt's new president Mohammed Mursi comes from the heart of the movement.
The Brotherhood in Jordan are different. For one, they have never been as harshly persecuted by the system as their Egyptian counterparts.
But they have also never seemed to gain as much political power.
They rally people in the streets in big numbers. But the peaceful demonstrations, as they always describe them, seem to go no further.
Flawed law?
The Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), has been organising the rallies for over a year now.
The demands have been the same since the demonstrations began: political reform, fighting corruption and modifying Jordan's controversial election law.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
We will not take part in forged elections”
Hamza Mansour Islamic Action Front
The Brotherhood claim the law does not allow fair representation.
Hamza Mansour, secretary general of the IAF, insists that they will boycott early parliamentary elections due by the end of the year.
"We will not take part in forged elections. This elections law does exactly that," he said.
"We have agreed on another draft law with the other political powers that gives a fair representation, taking into consideration each constituency's population and geography."
The Brotherhood have a very large support base in some of the constituencies and were planning to field more than one candidate in the hope of more seats in the parliament.
But the election law does not allow them to do so as it only allows one vote per constituency.
Their opponents say the Muslim Brotherhood want a law that serves them and only them.
But this is not Jordan's only problem and the Muslim Brotherhood is not the only strand of opposition here.
Poster-burning
Anger on the street led to what many Jordanians here called "the unthinkable".
Oday Abu Issa is a 19-year-old Jordanian student who describes himself as part of a popular youth opposition movement.
He was jailed for two months after burning a poster of King Abdullah last January.
This was the first incident of its kind and Oday says he wanted to send a message to the leadership.
"They continue to marginalise the opposition forces," he says.
"They don't recognise any opposition movement except the Islamists. This will provoke even more anger in the street.
"Opposition is not just the Islamists. We have nationalist, leftist, popular and youth movements, and they need to talk to all of us."
But unlike Egypt and Tunisia, the youth movements in Jordan have so far not been able to make a real difference.
They are still not popular or relevant enough on the Jordanian street.
"The problem is we still don't have a clear plan and a comprehensive programme," Oday says.
"There are many of us and we come from different backgrounds. We need a clear roadmap to unite us."
Tribal anger
The deteriorating economy and the diminishing role of the public sector have affected other groups of Jordanian society, including the tribes, who have always been known for their allegiance to the King and the government.
Jumana Ghneimat is editor-in-chief of the Jordanian Ghad newspaper. She says the anger among the tribes is a dangerous development.
"The tribes feel abandoned.
"They have long depended on a support system that has been provided to them by the King and the government and now they are asked to depend on themselves without the proper means to do so."
She goes on: "It started for economic reasons but now, they too are asking for political change.
"I think that the leadership's problems with the tribes are much more dangerous than its political brawls with the Muslim Brotherhood."
The government meanwhile has said that it will not change the election law and that it is up to the Muslim Brotherhood and the rest of the opposition to take part in the political process.
But this does not satisfy an already very frustrated public, who see no end in sight for their economic problems.
Jordan's limited resources are being stretched still further with the growing number of Syrian refugees entering the country every day.
Jordanian authorities 'suppressing free speech'
25 April 2012
Source: BBC News Middle East
The Jordanian authorities are violating people's right to free speech and undermining the credibility of reform efforts, a human rights group has said.
Human Rights Watch said a journalist and the publisher of the Gerasa News website had been charged with "subverting the system of government".
The charges related to an article about King Abdullah's alleged intervention in a corruption investigation, it added.
HRW said the case was the fifth such incident in Arab kingdom this year.
Sahar al-Muhtasab and her brother Jamal al-Muhtasab, who both worked for Gerasa News, had been charged on 23 April, a statement said.
They had both worked on an article that quoted a member of parliament as saying King Abdullah had issued instructions to members of a parliamentary committee not to refer a former minister to court on corruption charges.
Ms Muhtasab told HRW that a military prosecutor at the State Security Court had insisted King Abdullah was at the forefront of the fight against corruption, and that it was forbidden to imply otherwise.
Christoph Wilcke Human Rights Watch
The prosecutor charged them both with "subverting the system of government in the kingdom", a crime that article 149 of Jordan's penal code punishes with hard labour.
Ms Muhtasab was released on 5,000 Jordanian dinars' ($7,050; £4,366) bail, but the prosecutor ordered her brother detained without bail for 14 days at a prison in the city of Salt, west of Amman, where he remains.
Christoph Wilcke, HRW's senior Middle East researcher, said: "Jordan cannot claim to be making democratic reforms while prosecutors hunt down journalists doing their job."
The incident is the latest in a series in which people have faced charges for making speeches or attending demonstrations deemed critical of the government.
In January, a man was charged with "undermining his majesty's dignity" for burning a poster of King Abdullah. A former MP was charged the following month with "advocating a republican form of government". And in March, two separate groups of protesters were arrested in Amman.
"Jordan's talk of reform is meaningless as long as the law deprives citizens of meeting and speaking freely, especially about politics and their leaders," Mr Wilcke said. "The kingdom risks earning a reputation for repression and intolerance."
Source: BBC News Middle East
The Jordanian authorities are violating people's right to free speech and undermining the credibility of reform efforts, a human rights group has said.
Human Rights Watch said a journalist and the publisher of the Gerasa News website had been charged with "subverting the system of government".
The charges related to an article about King Abdullah's alleged intervention in a corruption investigation, it added.
HRW said the case was the fifth such incident in Arab kingdom this year.
Sahar al-Muhtasab and her brother Jamal al-Muhtasab, who both worked for Gerasa News, had been charged on 23 April, a statement said.
They had both worked on an article that quoted a member of parliament as saying King Abdullah had issued instructions to members of a parliamentary committee not to refer a former minister to court on corruption charges.
Ms Muhtasab told HRW that a military prosecutor at the State Security Court had insisted King Abdullah was at the forefront of the fight against corruption, and that it was forbidden to imply otherwise.
Christoph Wilcke Human Rights Watch
The prosecutor charged them both with "subverting the system of government in the kingdom", a crime that article 149 of Jordan's penal code punishes with hard labour.
Ms Muhtasab was released on 5,000 Jordanian dinars' ($7,050; £4,366) bail, but the prosecutor ordered her brother detained without bail for 14 days at a prison in the city of Salt, west of Amman, where he remains.
Christoph Wilcke, HRW's senior Middle East researcher, said: "Jordan cannot claim to be making democratic reforms while prosecutors hunt down journalists doing their job."
The incident is the latest in a series in which people have faced charges for making speeches or attending demonstrations deemed critical of the government.
In January, a man was charged with "undermining his majesty's dignity" for burning a poster of King Abdullah. A former MP was charged the following month with "advocating a republican form of government". And in March, two separate groups of protesters were arrested in Amman.
"Jordan's talk of reform is meaningless as long as the law deprives citizens of meeting and speaking freely, especially about politics and their leaders," Mr Wilcke said. "The kingdom risks earning a reputation for repression and intolerance."
Jordan's King Abdullah endorses controversial media law
18 September 2012
Source: BBC News Middle East
Jordan's King Abdullah of has endorsed a new media law which critics say will stifle freedom of expression online.
The legislation requires "electronic publications" in Jordan to get a licence from the government.
It also gives the authorities the power to block and censor websites, whose owners will be held responsible for comments posted on them.
Human Rights Watch accused the government of using such legislation to "go after opponents and critics".
Media professionals and ordinary citizens regularly found themselves charged with and convicted of criminal offences related to speech, it said.
In April, the State Security Court military prosecutor detained the editor of the Gerasa News website for trying to "undermine the system of government" after it published an article about the king's alleged intervention in a corruption investigation.
The case remains open but the trial has not yet started.
'Check the truth'
Human Rights Watch said the dangers of the amendments to the Press and Publications Law endorsed on Monday arose from its vague definition of the "electronic publications" which would be affected, the new executive power to block websites, and the unreasonable restrictions on online content, including comments posted by website users.
The legislation's definition of electronic publication is "an electronic site on the internet with a fixed address that offers publication services".
Any that publish "news, investigations, articles, or comments, which have to do with the internal or external affairs of the kingdom" must register with the commerce ministry and get a licence from the culture ministry.
The culture ministry will have the authority to block websites that are either unlicensed or deemed to be in violation of any law, and to close the website's offices without providing a reason or obtaining a court order.
The owner, editor and director of an electronic publication will share the responsibility for comments posted on their website, and be obliged not to publish any "containing information or facts unrelated to the news item or if the truth has not been checked", or if they "violate laws".
"The government has not shown a valid reason for prohibiting user comments that are deemed unrelated to the item that triggered the comment, a prohibition that appears to be arbitrary interference in the right to free expression," HRW said.
"Obliging website managers to check the truth of comments is also not a valid restriction on freedom of speech, which includes the freedom to express unproven statements or even falsehoods."
The Associated Press estimated that about 400 Jordanian websites would be affected by the new law.
The Press and Publications Law and the penal code already criminalise defamation, including libel and slander, including against entities that are not people, such as government institutions, symbols and religions.
Source: BBC News Middle East
Jordan's King Abdullah of has endorsed a new media law which critics say will stifle freedom of expression online.
The legislation requires "electronic publications" in Jordan to get a licence from the government.
It also gives the authorities the power to block and censor websites, whose owners will be held responsible for comments posted on them.
Human Rights Watch accused the government of using such legislation to "go after opponents and critics".
Media professionals and ordinary citizens regularly found themselves charged with and convicted of criminal offences related to speech, it said.
In April, the State Security Court military prosecutor detained the editor of the Gerasa News website for trying to "undermine the system of government" after it published an article about the king's alleged intervention in a corruption investigation.
The case remains open but the trial has not yet started.
'Check the truth'
Human Rights Watch said the dangers of the amendments to the Press and Publications Law endorsed on Monday arose from its vague definition of the "electronic publications" which would be affected, the new executive power to block websites, and the unreasonable restrictions on online content, including comments posted by website users.
The legislation's definition of electronic publication is "an electronic site on the internet with a fixed address that offers publication services".
Any that publish "news, investigations, articles, or comments, which have to do with the internal or external affairs of the kingdom" must register with the commerce ministry and get a licence from the culture ministry.
The culture ministry will have the authority to block websites that are either unlicensed or deemed to be in violation of any law, and to close the website's offices without providing a reason or obtaining a court order.
The owner, editor and director of an electronic publication will share the responsibility for comments posted on their website, and be obliged not to publish any "containing information or facts unrelated to the news item or if the truth has not been checked", or if they "violate laws".
"The government has not shown a valid reason for prohibiting user comments that are deemed unrelated to the item that triggered the comment, a prohibition that appears to be arbitrary interference in the right to free expression," HRW said.
"Obliging website managers to check the truth of comments is also not a valid restriction on freedom of speech, which includes the freedom to express unproven statements or even falsehoods."
The Associated Press estimated that about 400 Jordanian websites would be affected by the new law.
The Press and Publications Law and the penal code already criminalise defamation, including libel and slander, including against entities that are not people, such as government institutions, symbols and religions.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Empowerment, not restrictions, will solve media’s ills — sector leaders
June 24, 2012
by Hani Hazaimeh
Source:Jordan Times
AMMAN — Reforming the Kingdom’s press is best done by training and empowering journalists, not limiting their freedoms, members of the media said.
In interviews with The Jordan Times, they insisted that there was no need for additional legislation or regulations that might undermine press freedoms or the freedom of expression.
"The media is a very important player in shaping the public mind and in steering the community's perception,” said Jordan Press Association (JPA) President Tareq Momani.
“Therefore, it is essential that what is being reported reflects the truth without bias or prejudice. The JPA is keen to fulfil its responsibilities in elevating professionalism, provided that all other parties show the same enthusiasm and willingness to cooperate," Momani told The Jordan Times on Sunday.
He was responding to Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh's comments during an interview on Jordan Television on Friday night.
"Some media outlets deviate from the right track and we continue to see some who intentionally publish material meant for character assassination or news reports without verifying their validity,” Tarawneh said on the “Sixty Minutes” news programme. “This creates confusion and this is of course due to the leniency of the authorities in dealing with news providers."
"I think the Jordan Press Association can play an important role in this particular aspect with regard to... introducing proper legislation to curb this unacceptable behaviour," the premier added.
Al Rai Editor-in-Chief Samir Hiyari acknowledged that the problems Tarawneh mentioned are real, blaming “unprofessional media outlets” for presenting local and foreign audiences with reports that do not meet the criteria of professionalism.
"We should not bury our heads in the sand and say we don’t have a problem, because we do, and this requires us all to work together to address this problem because it is affecting the entire media body," Hiyari said.
President of the Transparency Forum Bassem Sakkijha, however, warned that authorities should tread very carefully in dealing with the media in a society that is witnessing democratic transformations.
“Any attempt to restrain the media sector under any excuse will backfire,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.
"It is true that the media anywhere need overhauls from time to time to keep up with the changes in the world around them. However, authorities should work on empowering the media by activating media-related legislation such as the Access to Information Law, which enables journalists to obtain credible information from credible sources," said Sakkijha, who is also a columnist for Ad Dustour.
A lack of transparency and openness to the media compels journalists to seek anonymous sources, he noted.
Co-publisher of Khaberni.com Mohammad Hawamdeh said the “chaos” in the online media sector requires an initiative by all stakeholders — the government, JPA, Parliament and civil society institutions concerned with the media - in order to organise the sector.
"Sadly no one has the courage to take such initiative as they are fearful of the reaction of the online media," Hawamdeh said, adding that the “immature” electronic media sector in particular needs to be regulated in order to ensure its abidance by the ethics of the profession.
Meanwhile, Momani said he had represented the JPA alongside media leaders at several meetings with government officials, including the premier, to discuss the media strategy adopted by the former government of Marouf Bakhit.
"The JPA will support any constructive effort that leads to empowering the media sector, but we will strongly oppose any measure that could undermine press freedom," Momani said, stressing that the JPA is not aware of any government intention at the moment to amend the Press and Publications Law.
by Hani Hazaimeh
Source:Jordan Times
AMMAN — Reforming the Kingdom’s press is best done by training and empowering journalists, not limiting their freedoms, members of the media said.
In interviews with The Jordan Times, they insisted that there was no need for additional legislation or regulations that might undermine press freedoms or the freedom of expression.
"The media is a very important player in shaping the public mind and in steering the community's perception,” said Jordan Press Association (JPA) President Tareq Momani.
“Therefore, it is essential that what is being reported reflects the truth without bias or prejudice. The JPA is keen to fulfil its responsibilities in elevating professionalism, provided that all other parties show the same enthusiasm and willingness to cooperate," Momani told The Jordan Times on Sunday.
He was responding to Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh's comments during an interview on Jordan Television on Friday night.
"Some media outlets deviate from the right track and we continue to see some who intentionally publish material meant for character assassination or news reports without verifying their validity,” Tarawneh said on the “Sixty Minutes” news programme. “This creates confusion and this is of course due to the leniency of the authorities in dealing with news providers."
"I think the Jordan Press Association can play an important role in this particular aspect with regard to... introducing proper legislation to curb this unacceptable behaviour," the premier added.
Al Rai Editor-in-Chief Samir Hiyari acknowledged that the problems Tarawneh mentioned are real, blaming “unprofessional media outlets” for presenting local and foreign audiences with reports that do not meet the criteria of professionalism.
"We should not bury our heads in the sand and say we don’t have a problem, because we do, and this requires us all to work together to address this problem because it is affecting the entire media body," Hiyari said.
President of the Transparency Forum Bassem Sakkijha, however, warned that authorities should tread very carefully in dealing with the media in a society that is witnessing democratic transformations.
“Any attempt to restrain the media sector under any excuse will backfire,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.
"It is true that the media anywhere need overhauls from time to time to keep up with the changes in the world around them. However, authorities should work on empowering the media by activating media-related legislation such as the Access to Information Law, which enables journalists to obtain credible information from credible sources," said Sakkijha, who is also a columnist for Ad Dustour.
A lack of transparency and openness to the media compels journalists to seek anonymous sources, he noted.
Co-publisher of Khaberni.com Mohammad Hawamdeh said the “chaos” in the online media sector requires an initiative by all stakeholders — the government, JPA, Parliament and civil society institutions concerned with the media - in order to organise the sector.
"Sadly no one has the courage to take such initiative as they are fearful of the reaction of the online media," Hawamdeh said, adding that the “immature” electronic media sector in particular needs to be regulated in order to ensure its abidance by the ethics of the profession.
Meanwhile, Momani said he had represented the JPA alongside media leaders at several meetings with government officials, including the premier, to discuss the media strategy adopted by the former government of Marouf Bakhit.
"The JPA will support any constructive effort that leads to empowering the media sector, but we will strongly oppose any measure that could undermine press freedom," Momani said, stressing that the JPA is not aware of any government intention at the moment to amend the Press and Publications Law.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Jordan opposition: Govt ‘unserious’ about reforms
Oct 4, 2011
By ABDUL JALIL MUSTAFA | ARAB NEWS
AMMAN: A coalition of Jordanian opposition parties on Tuesday accused the government of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit of being “not serious” about political reform and pledged to continue struggle to achieve the required change.
“There is clear slowdown and lack of seriousness on the part of the government toward the accomplishment of real political reform that ensures the required transition of society,” the Higher Coordination Committee of National Opposition Parties said in a statement.
The panel, which comprises the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and seven other Pan-Arab and left-leaning political parties, detected the government’s “lack of will for reform” that found expression in the new election law and the municipalities law due to govern the municipal elections set for the second half of December.
The Muslim Brotherhood movement, the country’s main opposition group, has decided to “suspend” participation in the municipal polls pending the government’s meeting of several demands, including a constitutional amendment that limits the king’s powers, foremost his appointment of prime ministers.
The Jordanian opposition parties also held the government responsible for recent attacks on opposition figures, including Saturday’s attack on prominent activist Leith Shbeilat, who was stoned as he addressed a rally in the Jerash area, 30 km north of Amman.
By ABDUL JALIL MUSTAFA | ARAB NEWS
AMMAN: A coalition of Jordanian opposition parties on Tuesday accused the government of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit of being “not serious” about political reform and pledged to continue struggle to achieve the required change.
“There is clear slowdown and lack of seriousness on the part of the government toward the accomplishment of real political reform that ensures the required transition of society,” the Higher Coordination Committee of National Opposition Parties said in a statement.
The panel, which comprises the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and seven other Pan-Arab and left-leaning political parties, detected the government’s “lack of will for reform” that found expression in the new election law and the municipalities law due to govern the municipal elections set for the second half of December.
The Muslim Brotherhood movement, the country’s main opposition group, has decided to “suspend” participation in the municipal polls pending the government’s meeting of several demands, including a constitutional amendment that limits the king’s powers, foremost his appointment of prime ministers.
The Jordanian opposition parties also held the government responsible for recent attacks on opposition figures, including Saturday’s attack on prominent activist Leith Shbeilat, who was stoned as he addressed a rally in the Jerash area, 30 km north of Amman.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Students Forced to Pledge Distance from Political Parties
2011-09-27
AMMONNEWS - University students receiving 'Makruma' scholarships were asked to sign a pledge not to join memberships of any political parties and not to conduct any political activities on university campuses.
The Higher Coordination Committee of the Jordanian National Opposition Political Parties on Monday blasted the move to force students to sign such pledges, stressing that such a stipulation violates principles of freedom and obstructs the development of democratic and political life.
Students who receive 'Makruma' scholarships allocated for underprivileged areas noted that they were asked to sign a pledge not to participate in political activism inside university campuses.
A statement issued by the Opposition Political Parties' Coordination Committee on Monday cited receiving notice from the 'National Campaign for Students' Rights' noting that Makruma students were asked to sign the pledge.
The Committee requested clarification from Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit during a meeting last Saturday, at which Bakhit noted that he had no knowledge of such a decision.
AMMONNEWS - University students receiving 'Makruma' scholarships were asked to sign a pledge not to join memberships of any political parties and not to conduct any political activities on university campuses.
The Higher Coordination Committee of the Jordanian National Opposition Political Parties on Monday blasted the move to force students to sign such pledges, stressing that such a stipulation violates principles of freedom and obstructs the development of democratic and political life.
Students who receive 'Makruma' scholarships allocated for underprivileged areas noted that they were asked to sign a pledge not to participate in political activism inside university campuses.
A statement issued by the Opposition Political Parties' Coordination Committee on Monday cited receiving notice from the 'National Campaign for Students' Rights' noting that Makruma students were asked to sign the pledge.
The Committee requested clarification from Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit during a meeting last Saturday, at which Bakhit noted that he had no knowledge of such a decision.
Journalists to Protest Controversial Article at Senate
2011-09-28
AMMONNEWS - Journalists and activists will stage a protest Thursday evening before the Upper House of Parliament against the approval of a controversial article in the Anti-Corruption law which they view as curbing press freedoms.
The protest is scheduled to take place at 4 PM in front of the Senate to coincide with the final session to be held in parliament before it adjourns from the extra-ordinary session.
The Senate will convene on Thursday to deliberate on the 2011 Anti-Corruption Law, which was approved by the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday.
Representatives of political, youth, and nationalist movements announced partaking in the protest, in addition to Jordanian professional associations and opposition political parties, in a stance aimed to defend freedom of the press and the media's role in exposing corruption.
Journalists and advocates went in uproar on Tuesday after lawmakers passed the law containing the controversial Article 23, which includes provisions that any person or party that charges another of corruption without providing lawful evidence with the purpose of slander or defamation and character assassination will be subjected to a fine of a minimum of JD 30,000 to a maximum of JD 60,000.
Observers and several MPs who opposed the controversial article blasted that the stipulation aims to 'fortress corruption and corrupt officials,' and contradicts the reform principles publicly propagated by the legislative and executive branches.
AMMONNEWS - Journalists and activists will stage a protest Thursday evening before the Upper House of Parliament against the approval of a controversial article in the Anti-Corruption law which they view as curbing press freedoms.
The protest is scheduled to take place at 4 PM in front of the Senate to coincide with the final session to be held in parliament before it adjourns from the extra-ordinary session.
The Senate will convene on Thursday to deliberate on the 2011 Anti-Corruption Law, which was approved by the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday.
Representatives of political, youth, and nationalist movements announced partaking in the protest, in addition to Jordanian professional associations and opposition political parties, in a stance aimed to defend freedom of the press and the media's role in exposing corruption.
Journalists and advocates went in uproar on Tuesday after lawmakers passed the law containing the controversial Article 23, which includes provisions that any person or party that charges another of corruption without providing lawful evidence with the purpose of slander or defamation and character assassination will be subjected to a fine of a minimum of JD 30,000 to a maximum of JD 60,000.
Observers and several MPs who opposed the controversial article blasted that the stipulation aims to 'fortress corruption and corrupt officials,' and contradicts the reform principles publicly propagated by the legislative and executive branches.
Parliament criminalises reporting on corruption
2011-09-29
AMMONNEWS - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned the recent adoption of Article 23 (A draft law for the Authority of Anti-Corruption presented by the executive power) by the Jordanian Parliament, which criminalizes publishing information about corruption with a fine of 30,000 to 60,000 Jordanian Dinars (approx. US$42,000 to US$84,600). The article was approved by 56 members out of the 96 who attended the session, which was held on the morning of 27 September.
Under Article 23, "Whoever unlawfully spreads, publishes, refers or helps in the publication of news by any public means about any person accused of the crimes of corruption which is mentioned in Article 5 of this law and that leads to defamation, impacts on his dignity or targets his personality, will be punished by a fine not less than 30,000 Jordanian Dinars and not more than 60,000 Jordanian Dinars." This means that journalists, bloggers and activists in Jordan will risk prosecution and a steep fine for publishing any news or information about corruption.
ANHRI pointed out that "the adoption of this article by the Parliament is not only considered to be an attack on freedom of expression and gagging of journalists, but is also a violation against the rights of citizens to circulate information on corruption, which must be shared with public opinion as it affects all classes of people directly."
"This oppressive article that was adopted by the Parliament is considered to be an endorsement for corruption in Jordan. It does not provide any benefit to the people in Jordan. On the contrary, it aims to protect some people in power and could provoke suspicions of corruption against them," said ANHRI
"The adoption of this article by the Parliament is shocking, particularly since the main role of the Parliament is to represent the people and express their interests, limit corruption and curb it. This legislative addition makes us wonder because by adopting this article, it went from guarding against corruption to condoning it. The Jordanian authorities must reevaluate the issue of adopting and applying these arbitrary legal restrictions," ANHRI added.
AMMONNEWS - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned the recent adoption of Article 23 (A draft law for the Authority of Anti-Corruption presented by the executive power) by the Jordanian Parliament, which criminalizes publishing information about corruption with a fine of 30,000 to 60,000 Jordanian Dinars (approx. US$42,000 to US$84,600). The article was approved by 56 members out of the 96 who attended the session, which was held on the morning of 27 September.
Under Article 23, "Whoever unlawfully spreads, publishes, refers or helps in the publication of news by any public means about any person accused of the crimes of corruption which is mentioned in Article 5 of this law and that leads to defamation, impacts on his dignity or targets his personality, will be punished by a fine not less than 30,000 Jordanian Dinars and not more than 60,000 Jordanian Dinars." This means that journalists, bloggers and activists in Jordan will risk prosecution and a steep fine for publishing any news or information about corruption.
ANHRI pointed out that "the adoption of this article by the Parliament is not only considered to be an attack on freedom of expression and gagging of journalists, but is also a violation against the rights of citizens to circulate information on corruption, which must be shared with public opinion as it affects all classes of people directly."
"This oppressive article that was adopted by the Parliament is considered to be an endorsement for corruption in Jordan. It does not provide any benefit to the people in Jordan. On the contrary, it aims to protect some people in power and could provoke suspicions of corruption against them," said ANHRI
"The adoption of this article by the Parliament is shocking, particularly since the main role of the Parliament is to represent the people and express their interests, limit corruption and curb it. This legislative addition makes us wonder because by adopting this article, it went from guarding against corruption to condoning it. The Jordanian authorities must reevaluate the issue of adopting and applying these arbitrary legal restrictions," ANHRI added.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
King Abdullah: Jordan Needs 'Stable Middle Class'
September 22, 2011
by NPR Staff
Source: www.npr. org
The protests of the Arab Spring have made it a risky time to be a ruler in the Middle East. But King Abdullah II of Jordan, who is among the world leaders at the United Nations this week, also sees opportunities.
"In certain countries, you're going to see revolution after revolution, until it calms down," the king tells Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep. "What we're trying to do in Jordan is [to] do evolution."
In Jordan, street protests have been limited compared with other nations in the region, but they prompted Abdullah, 49, to promise changes in the constitution that will allow his subjects to elect a prime minister and other officials.
During his visit to New York City, the Jordanian monarch spoke about the Arab Spring and the increasing calls for the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state.
Interview Highlights:
On Israel, and Palestinians' Push for Statehood
"The bid by the Palestinians for statehood [as recognized by the U.N.] came out of desperation and frustration, because nothing was happening on the negotiation table. We could see this coming from several months ago. Obviously, certain countries had raised their concerns about the Palestinian bid. Our response has been, 'Well, let's then make an effort to get the Israelis and Palestinians to sit around the table.' That hasn't happened. So we only have ourselves to blame for this crisis."
On Turkey's recent downgrade of relations with Israel, and whether Jordan may follow suit
"We have, as you mention, peace with Israel. We're actually the last man standing. So, there is going to be immense pressure and people asking, 'Why are we having this relationship, when it's not benefiting anybody?' Obviously, my answer is, you always benefit from peace. But ... we have seen no intention from the other side to try and move the process forward ...
"There are going to be a lot of questions, not just in my country but across the Middle East: Is Israel going to continue to be 'Fortress Israel' — or, as we all hope, become accepted into the neighborhood? Which I believe is the only way we can move forward in harmony. And no matter what's happening in the Middle East — the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment — the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one."
On the Arab Spring
"What bothers me in a lot of countries is [that] society is being led by the street, as opposed to the light at the end of the tunnel. But we have got to remember that the Arab Spring began — and there's challenges all over the world, including your country — because of economic difficulties: unemployment, poverty. We have the largest youth cohort in history coming into the workforce in the Middle East. And that is how the Arab Spring started. I mean, Tunis started because of the economy, not because of politics.
"What keeps me up at night is poverty and unemployment. We have, in the past 10 years, managed to establish a credible middle class. But any shifts in oil prices, economic challenges, that middle class becomes very fragile. ... You really need a strong, stable middle class."
On the role of the king today
"My job is to put food on the table for people. And what I meant by that is, basically, creating a middle class, knowing full well — and looking again at the European model, the United States in particular, also — the stronger you have a middle class, the easier I think political transformation happens.
"So it's a two-edged sword: The more I support with my economic plans the building of the middle class, the quicker they're going to turn around and say, 'Hey, we want a bigger say in things.' So, I knew what I was getting into right at the beginning. It's the right thing to do. This is bigger than Jordan. We want to be an example for the rest of the Arab world. Because there are a lot of people who say that the only democracy you can have in the Middle East is the Muslim Brotherhood. And I don't think that's the case."
On the future of Jordan's monarchy
"The monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I have inherited. ... There is a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the king. And it's about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people. Because today, if you're appointed by the king, they don't feel that they're responsible for the people. If you have a government that is elected, they need to do the hard work — because if they don't, they won't be around the next time the ballot box is open."
On holding elections in Jordan
"We're announcing municipal elections at the end of the year, and national elections at the beginning of next year. The challenge that we have — and this brings concerns, but also excitement — is trying to get a democratic mentality. For all the town-hall meetings that I have ... there's one question I now ask on purpose, because the first couple times I asked it, the answer surprised me. I say, 'Where do you stand on health, education, taxes, services, et cetera?' — and 99 percent, I get blank looks."
On Jordan's political climate
"As an American colleague said to me several months ago, he said, 'I think the challenge in Jordan' — again, this is for the rest of the Middle East — 'we need to define what "center" is. Once we can define what "center" is to a Jordanian, then we can decide what's left and what's right of that.' ... That takes time, for people to look along those lines."
On the future of the Arab Spring
"No expert in the world now can predict what's going to happen in the Middle East. Things are happening too quickly, and the area is changing so rapidly that we really don't know. ... A very senior European politician said that when they saw the Israeli Embassy in Cairo being attacked, that was like taking a bucket of cold water and pouring it over a lot of heads of states' heads in the West. So, there is concern of where is this Arab Spring leading to in many countries. But the only way that we can help is all of us pitch in and try to support those countries go through these tough times."
Transcript
DAVID GREENE, host: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm David Greene.
STEVE INSKEEP, host: And I'm Steve Inskeep.
The man we'll hear from next has a very personal stake in dramatic events across the Middle East. King Abdullah of Jordan is one of many Arab rulers facing protests this year. He has responded by promising his people greater democracy over time.
GREENE: But that's not his only challenge. Abdullah's nation is a neighbor of Israel and it's also home to millions of Palestinians. So he's directly affected by this week's meetings at the United Nations, where Palestinians plan to make a bid for statehood.
King ABDULLAH: I think everybody is being backed into a corner. So we're working desperately to find a mechanism that is acceptable to all sides. So there's been a lot of late-night meetings between Palestinians, the Israelis, the Americans, et cetera.
INSKEEP: King Abdullah was talking at a New York hotel, sitting beside a table decorated with a photo of his family. He's 49 years old with a brisk walk. He wears a Western-style suit. His government, unlike most in the Arab world, maintains diplomatic ties with Israel. But now the king says something must happen within days to push Israel toward a settlement with Palestinians.
Given the state of negotiations, is it acceptable to you to walk away from this U.N. meeting this week, with something less than recognition of Palestinian statehood?
King ABDULLAH: Well, the bid by the Palestinians for statehood came out of desperation and frustration, because nothing was happening on the negotiating table. And we could see this coming from several months ago. And obviously, certain countries had raised their concerns about the Palestinian bid. Our response has been, well, let's then make an effort to get the Israelis and Palestinians to sit around the table. That hasn't happened. So we only have ourselves to blame for this crisis.
Having said that, I have to commend the role of the European Union, trying to find a mechanism that pleases everybody. We've had - every six hours it seems to change. So I think until the last minute, which is Friday when the Palestinians make the decision, there's a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations to find something that's acceptable for everybody.
INSKEEP: Meaning something short of statehood that pushes a vote on statehood down the road, but gets negotiations started with...
King ABDULLAH: Well, I think what the Europeans are looking at is asking for statehood in a way that then there is a technical process that gives some time to allow Israelis and Palestinians to sit at the table and re-launch negotiations on final status issues.
INSKEEP: As you know, King Abdullah, Turkey has downgraded the state of its relations with Israel. Your country, we'll remind people, has relations with Israel.
King ABDULLAH: Yes.
INSKEEP: Have you considered downgrading your relations with Israel?
King ABDULLAH: No. But, you know, it's funny that you should mention this issue, because again, if we have a very negative impact coming out of the United Nations, in other words, that the Palestinians are really shorthanded on this issue. You saw recently what happened in Egypt with the attack on the Israeli Embassy. Turkey downgrading its relationship, Egypt having a problem with Israel. We have, as you mentioned, peace with Israel. We're actually the last man standing.
So there is going to be immense pressure. And people asking, why are we having this relationship when it's not benefitting anybody?
INSKEEP: You're saying you could be forced to take steps against Israel.
King ABDULLAH: I'm not a person that is forced. But having said that, there are going to be a lot of questions, not just in my country but across the Middle East. Is Israel going to continue to be Fortress Israel? Or, as we all hope, you know, become accepted into the neighborhood? Which I believe is the only way we can move forward in harmony.
And no matter what's happening in the Middle East - the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment - the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one.
INSKEEP: I'm glad you mentioned the Arab Spring. What is it like to be a king of an Arab state at a time of a revolution like this?
King ABDULLAH: Well, actually quite exciting. I think that, you know, we have been trying to push reform. There has been a lot of pushback by the more conservative elements. And what the Arab Spring or the Arab Awakening did was bringing the subject front and center. As a result, in Jordan we've created a national dialogue committee. We went on outreach with everybody. We're announcing municipal elections at the end of the year, and national elections beginning of next year.
INSKEEP: Given the realities in other countries, how do you keep a lid on - if that's the appropriate way to put it? How do you avoid an explosion for a year here?
King ABDULLAH: Well, again, you know, what's happening today, now - as long a people are - benchmark understand what needs to be done. I think the challenge that I have is managing people's expectations. Even if we have parliamentary elections in 2012, you're not going to have those new political parties. So we can have a new parliament next year. But until we get right, left and center, there's going to be a delay for that. That's the challenge.
INSKEEP: When you talk about left, right and center, you're basically talking about laying out a democratic political landscape in your country...
King ABDULLAH: Exactly...
INSKEEP: ...what do people stand for and what do they believe.
King ABDULLAH: In short terms, I announced last year - I mean the beginning of this year, and I've been speaking to everybody, saying, look, my vision of Jordan is two to five political parties, representing left, right and center, as quickly as possible.
INSKEEP: Does it bother you that one of the implied and often explicit messages of these protests across the Arab world, is that, if I may say, people like you should have less power or perhaps no power?
King ABDULLAH: No, it - you know, it depends if you have an ego issue, which I - particularly it's not a problem of mine. And since I've been pushing this from the start, I mean, the first interview I ever had after my father passed away, said, you know, my job is to put food on the table for people. And what I meant by that is basically creating a middle class, knowing full well the stronger you have a middle class, the easier I think political transformation happens.
So it's a two-edged sword, the more I support, with my economic plans, the building of a middle class, the quicker they're going turn around and say, hey, we want a bigger say in things. So I knew what I was getting into right at the beginning. It's the right thing to do. This is bigger than Jordan. We want to be an example for the rest of the Arab world. Because there are a lot of people who say that the only democracy you can have in the Middle East is the Muslim Brotherhood. And I don't think that's the case. I think if a monarchy, as you said, can show a new democratic platform, then I think we'll be a symbol for other countries.
INSKEEP: Do you expect there to be a monarchy that you would pass on to your heir, and if so what power would remain to the king?
King ABDULLAH: Well, we're obviously going through some tremendous changes today. I think we've said this in interviews before over the past 10 years, that the monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I've inherited. There's a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the king and it's about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people.
INSKEEP: What troubles you most about the protests of this year?
King ABDULLAH: Well, what bothers me in a lot of countries is, you know, society is being led by the street, as opposed to a light at the end of the tunnel. But we've got to remember that the Arab Spring began - and there's challenges all over the world, including your country, because of economic difficulties: unemployment, poverty, we have the largest youth cohort in history coming into the workforce in the Middle East - and that is how the Arab Spring started. I mean, Tunis started because of economy, not because of politics.
What keeps me up at night is poverty and unemployment. We have, in the past 10 years, managed to establish a credible middle class. But any shifts in oil prices, economic challenges - that middle class becomes very fragile.
INSKEEP: Are you also worried about who ends up ruling Arab countries?
King ABDULLAH: Well, you know, you have to always hope, in humanity, that the people will make the right choices. I think that when your stomach is full and you're secure, you can make better choices. And I think that's what we're trying to do in Jordan. But we are looking around our part of the world. There's lot of instability. I mean we miss, sorely, the strong role that Egypt played regionally. It's a regional powerhouse.
And today, with all the internal problems, unfortunately, they're not going to be on the scene for several years until this all settles. And I'm sad to see that, because we desperately need a strong, stable Egypt.
INSKEEP: And then there's Syria, your neighbor. What worries you most about the protests against Bashar al-Assad, the leader there?
King ABDULLAH: Well, from what I can see, I don't see much changes in the immediate future, which means that demonstrations will continue for quite a while. You know, there's nobody - no expert in the world now, can predict what's going to happen in the Middle East. Things are happening too quickly, and the area is changing so rapidly that we really don't know.
INSKEEP: King Abdullah, thanks very much.
King ABDULLAH: Thank you, sir.
INSKEEP: He is Abdullah II of Jordan, the namesake of his great grandfather, Jordan's first king in the years after World War I. He spoke with us in New York where meetings continue at and around the United Nations this week.
You're listening to MORNING EDITION from NPR News.
by NPR Staff
Source: www.npr. org
The protests of the Arab Spring have made it a risky time to be a ruler in the Middle East. But King Abdullah II of Jordan, who is among the world leaders at the United Nations this week, also sees opportunities.
"In certain countries, you're going to see revolution after revolution, until it calms down," the king tells Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep. "What we're trying to do in Jordan is [to] do evolution."
In Jordan, street protests have been limited compared with other nations in the region, but they prompted Abdullah, 49, to promise changes in the constitution that will allow his subjects to elect a prime minister and other officials.
During his visit to New York City, the Jordanian monarch spoke about the Arab Spring and the increasing calls for the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state.
Interview Highlights:
On Israel, and Palestinians' Push for Statehood
"The bid by the Palestinians for statehood [as recognized by the U.N.] came out of desperation and frustration, because nothing was happening on the negotiation table. We could see this coming from several months ago. Obviously, certain countries had raised their concerns about the Palestinian bid. Our response has been, 'Well, let's then make an effort to get the Israelis and Palestinians to sit around the table.' That hasn't happened. So we only have ourselves to blame for this crisis."
On Turkey's recent downgrade of relations with Israel, and whether Jordan may follow suit
"We have, as you mention, peace with Israel. We're actually the last man standing. So, there is going to be immense pressure and people asking, 'Why are we having this relationship, when it's not benefiting anybody?' Obviously, my answer is, you always benefit from peace. But ... we have seen no intention from the other side to try and move the process forward ...
"There are going to be a lot of questions, not just in my country but across the Middle East: Is Israel going to continue to be 'Fortress Israel' — or, as we all hope, become accepted into the neighborhood? Which I believe is the only way we can move forward in harmony. And no matter what's happening in the Middle East — the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment — the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one."
On the Arab Spring
"What bothers me in a lot of countries is [that] society is being led by the street, as opposed to the light at the end of the tunnel. But we have got to remember that the Arab Spring began — and there's challenges all over the world, including your country — because of economic difficulties: unemployment, poverty. We have the largest youth cohort in history coming into the workforce in the Middle East. And that is how the Arab Spring started. I mean, Tunis started because of the economy, not because of politics.
"What keeps me up at night is poverty and unemployment. We have, in the past 10 years, managed to establish a credible middle class. But any shifts in oil prices, economic challenges, that middle class becomes very fragile. ... You really need a strong, stable middle class."
On the role of the king today
"My job is to put food on the table for people. And what I meant by that is, basically, creating a middle class, knowing full well — and looking again at the European model, the United States in particular, also — the stronger you have a middle class, the easier I think political transformation happens.
"So it's a two-edged sword: The more I support with my economic plans the building of the middle class, the quicker they're going to turn around and say, 'Hey, we want a bigger say in things.' So, I knew what I was getting into right at the beginning. It's the right thing to do. This is bigger than Jordan. We want to be an example for the rest of the Arab world. Because there are a lot of people who say that the only democracy you can have in the Middle East is the Muslim Brotherhood. And I don't think that's the case."
On the future of Jordan's monarchy
"The monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I have inherited. ... There is a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the king. And it's about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people. Because today, if you're appointed by the king, they don't feel that they're responsible for the people. If you have a government that is elected, they need to do the hard work — because if they don't, they won't be around the next time the ballot box is open."
On holding elections in Jordan
"We're announcing municipal elections at the end of the year, and national elections at the beginning of next year. The challenge that we have — and this brings concerns, but also excitement — is trying to get a democratic mentality. For all the town-hall meetings that I have ... there's one question I now ask on purpose, because the first couple times I asked it, the answer surprised me. I say, 'Where do you stand on health, education, taxes, services, et cetera?' — and 99 percent, I get blank looks."
On Jordan's political climate
"As an American colleague said to me several months ago, he said, 'I think the challenge in Jordan' — again, this is for the rest of the Middle East — 'we need to define what "center" is. Once we can define what "center" is to a Jordanian, then we can decide what's left and what's right of that.' ... That takes time, for people to look along those lines."
On the future of the Arab Spring
"No expert in the world now can predict what's going to happen in the Middle East. Things are happening too quickly, and the area is changing so rapidly that we really don't know. ... A very senior European politician said that when they saw the Israeli Embassy in Cairo being attacked, that was like taking a bucket of cold water and pouring it over a lot of heads of states' heads in the West. So, there is concern of where is this Arab Spring leading to in many countries. But the only way that we can help is all of us pitch in and try to support those countries go through these tough times."
Transcript
DAVID GREENE, host: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm David Greene.
STEVE INSKEEP, host: And I'm Steve Inskeep.
The man we'll hear from next has a very personal stake in dramatic events across the Middle East. King Abdullah of Jordan is one of many Arab rulers facing protests this year. He has responded by promising his people greater democracy over time.
GREENE: But that's not his only challenge. Abdullah's nation is a neighbor of Israel and it's also home to millions of Palestinians. So he's directly affected by this week's meetings at the United Nations, where Palestinians plan to make a bid for statehood.
King ABDULLAH: I think everybody is being backed into a corner. So we're working desperately to find a mechanism that is acceptable to all sides. So there's been a lot of late-night meetings between Palestinians, the Israelis, the Americans, et cetera.
INSKEEP: King Abdullah was talking at a New York hotel, sitting beside a table decorated with a photo of his family. He's 49 years old with a brisk walk. He wears a Western-style suit. His government, unlike most in the Arab world, maintains diplomatic ties with Israel. But now the king says something must happen within days to push Israel toward a settlement with Palestinians.
Given the state of negotiations, is it acceptable to you to walk away from this U.N. meeting this week, with something less than recognition of Palestinian statehood?
King ABDULLAH: Well, the bid by the Palestinians for statehood came out of desperation and frustration, because nothing was happening on the negotiating table. And we could see this coming from several months ago. And obviously, certain countries had raised their concerns about the Palestinian bid. Our response has been, well, let's then make an effort to get the Israelis and Palestinians to sit around the table. That hasn't happened. So we only have ourselves to blame for this crisis.
Having said that, I have to commend the role of the European Union, trying to find a mechanism that pleases everybody. We've had - every six hours it seems to change. So I think until the last minute, which is Friday when the Palestinians make the decision, there's a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations to find something that's acceptable for everybody.
INSKEEP: Meaning something short of statehood that pushes a vote on statehood down the road, but gets negotiations started with...
King ABDULLAH: Well, I think what the Europeans are looking at is asking for statehood in a way that then there is a technical process that gives some time to allow Israelis and Palestinians to sit at the table and re-launch negotiations on final status issues.
INSKEEP: As you know, King Abdullah, Turkey has downgraded the state of its relations with Israel. Your country, we'll remind people, has relations with Israel.
King ABDULLAH: Yes.
INSKEEP: Have you considered downgrading your relations with Israel?
King ABDULLAH: No. But, you know, it's funny that you should mention this issue, because again, if we have a very negative impact coming out of the United Nations, in other words, that the Palestinians are really shorthanded on this issue. You saw recently what happened in Egypt with the attack on the Israeli Embassy. Turkey downgrading its relationship, Egypt having a problem with Israel. We have, as you mentioned, peace with Israel. We're actually the last man standing.
So there is going to be immense pressure. And people asking, why are we having this relationship when it's not benefitting anybody?
INSKEEP: You're saying you could be forced to take steps against Israel.
King ABDULLAH: I'm not a person that is forced. But having said that, there are going to be a lot of questions, not just in my country but across the Middle East. Is Israel going to continue to be Fortress Israel? Or, as we all hope, you know, become accepted into the neighborhood? Which I believe is the only way we can move forward in harmony.
And no matter what's happening in the Middle East - the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment - the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one.
INSKEEP: I'm glad you mentioned the Arab Spring. What is it like to be a king of an Arab state at a time of a revolution like this?
King ABDULLAH: Well, actually quite exciting. I think that, you know, we have been trying to push reform. There has been a lot of pushback by the more conservative elements. And what the Arab Spring or the Arab Awakening did was bringing the subject front and center. As a result, in Jordan we've created a national dialogue committee. We went on outreach with everybody. We're announcing municipal elections at the end of the year, and national elections beginning of next year.
INSKEEP: Given the realities in other countries, how do you keep a lid on - if that's the appropriate way to put it? How do you avoid an explosion for a year here?
King ABDULLAH: Well, again, you know, what's happening today, now - as long a people are - benchmark understand what needs to be done. I think the challenge that I have is managing people's expectations. Even if we have parliamentary elections in 2012, you're not going to have those new political parties. So we can have a new parliament next year. But until we get right, left and center, there's going to be a delay for that. That's the challenge.
INSKEEP: When you talk about left, right and center, you're basically talking about laying out a democratic political landscape in your country...
King ABDULLAH: Exactly...
INSKEEP: ...what do people stand for and what do they believe.
King ABDULLAH: In short terms, I announced last year - I mean the beginning of this year, and I've been speaking to everybody, saying, look, my vision of Jordan is two to five political parties, representing left, right and center, as quickly as possible.
INSKEEP: Does it bother you that one of the implied and often explicit messages of these protests across the Arab world, is that, if I may say, people like you should have less power or perhaps no power?
King ABDULLAH: No, it - you know, it depends if you have an ego issue, which I - particularly it's not a problem of mine. And since I've been pushing this from the start, I mean, the first interview I ever had after my father passed away, said, you know, my job is to put food on the table for people. And what I meant by that is basically creating a middle class, knowing full well the stronger you have a middle class, the easier I think political transformation happens.
So it's a two-edged sword, the more I support, with my economic plans, the building of a middle class, the quicker they're going turn around and say, hey, we want a bigger say in things. So I knew what I was getting into right at the beginning. It's the right thing to do. This is bigger than Jordan. We want to be an example for the rest of the Arab world. Because there are a lot of people who say that the only democracy you can have in the Middle East is the Muslim Brotherhood. And I don't think that's the case. I think if a monarchy, as you said, can show a new democratic platform, then I think we'll be a symbol for other countries.
INSKEEP: Do you expect there to be a monarchy that you would pass on to your heir, and if so what power would remain to the king?
King ABDULLAH: Well, we're obviously going through some tremendous changes today. I think we've said this in interviews before over the past 10 years, that the monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I've inherited. There's a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the king and it's about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people.
INSKEEP: What troubles you most about the protests of this year?
King ABDULLAH: Well, what bothers me in a lot of countries is, you know, society is being led by the street, as opposed to a light at the end of the tunnel. But we've got to remember that the Arab Spring began - and there's challenges all over the world, including your country, because of economic difficulties: unemployment, poverty, we have the largest youth cohort in history coming into the workforce in the Middle East - and that is how the Arab Spring started. I mean, Tunis started because of economy, not because of politics.
What keeps me up at night is poverty and unemployment. We have, in the past 10 years, managed to establish a credible middle class. But any shifts in oil prices, economic challenges - that middle class becomes very fragile.
INSKEEP: Are you also worried about who ends up ruling Arab countries?
King ABDULLAH: Well, you know, you have to always hope, in humanity, that the people will make the right choices. I think that when your stomach is full and you're secure, you can make better choices. And I think that's what we're trying to do in Jordan. But we are looking around our part of the world. There's lot of instability. I mean we miss, sorely, the strong role that Egypt played regionally. It's a regional powerhouse.
And today, with all the internal problems, unfortunately, they're not going to be on the scene for several years until this all settles. And I'm sad to see that, because we desperately need a strong, stable Egypt.
INSKEEP: And then there's Syria, your neighbor. What worries you most about the protests against Bashar al-Assad, the leader there?
King ABDULLAH: Well, from what I can see, I don't see much changes in the immediate future, which means that demonstrations will continue for quite a while. You know, there's nobody - no expert in the world now, can predict what's going to happen in the Middle East. Things are happening too quickly, and the area is changing so rapidly that we really don't know.
INSKEEP: King Abdullah, thanks very much.
King ABDULLAH: Thank you, sir.
INSKEEP: He is Abdullah II of Jordan, the namesake of his great grandfather, Jordan's first king in the years after World War I. He spoke with us in New York where meetings continue at and around the United Nations this week.
You're listening to MORNING EDITION from NPR News.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Party says 8 hurt in attack on Jordan protest
August 12, 2011
Source:www.seattlepi.com
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's Popular Democratic Unity party says at least 8 of its members were wounded in the southern city of Karak during a protest demanding government reforms.
The political party said in a statement issued Friday that the injured were being treated in a local hospital.
The protesters gathered after Friday prayers when the party says unruly thugs burst in on the crowd, cursing and attacking with knives and sticks.
The party blames the security services for inadequate protection in Karak, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Amman.
Repeated phone calls to the police were unanswered.
Jordan has experienced seven months of mostly peaceful protests demanding greater political say and economic reforms.
Source:www.seattlepi.com
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's Popular Democratic Unity party says at least 8 of its members were wounded in the southern city of Karak during a protest demanding government reforms.
The political party said in a statement issued Friday that the injured were being treated in a local hospital.
The protesters gathered after Friday prayers when the party says unruly thugs burst in on the crowd, cursing and attacking with knives and sticks.
The party blames the security services for inadequate protection in Karak, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Amman.
Repeated phone calls to the police were unanswered.
Jordan has experienced seven months of mostly peaceful protests demanding greater political say and economic reforms.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Protests in Jordan persist, but change is slow
July 22,2011
by Joel Greenberg
Source: Washington Post
AMMAN, Jordan — At the weekly anti-government demonstration after Friday prayers here in Jordan’s capital, Malik Gheith held up a poster showing a caricature of a fearsome-looking policeman wielding a club, captioned, “Your dignity ends here.”
The message, a week after police beat peaceful protesters and journalists at a similar march in downtown Amman, was clear. “There can’t be any political reform with repression,” Gheith said. “The security forces have to stop their brutality.”
Friday’s march ended without incident, as unarmed police officers flanked the protesters, preventing any contact with a small group of pro-government demonstrators nearby. Riot police, responsible for last week’s beatings, were nowhere to be seen, and newspaper headlines highlighted King Abdullah II’s condemnation of their assaults on reporters.
After six months of weekly demonstrations inspired by the Arab Spring, Jordan’s ferment is still a managed crisis, festering but not at a tipping point, with protesters unable to generate momentum to force swift change.
The opposition is divided between youth groups and leftists on one hand and the Muslim Brotherhood on the other. The Brotherhood is perceived by its potential allies as angling for a greater piece of the government pie, rather than seeking fundamental change.
Movement toward political change has been slow, with the king promising broader public participation, such as governments based on the parliamentary majority rather than royal appointment. But little has been done to carry out those pledges, aside from a recent cabinet reshuffle widely viewed as cosmetic.
In a speech last month, the king said it would take as long as three years for mature political parties to emerge.
“After what we saw in Tunis, Egypt and Yemen, we’re surprised that in six months we haven’t been able to achieve anything,” said Islam Samhan, a member of a pro-reform coalition who was at Friday’s demonstration. “The king has not responded to the demands of the people.”
Yet that frustration has not produced calls for the overthrow of the monarchy, widely seen as the only glue that can hold together a potentially volatile mix of Palestinians and East Bank Jordanians, fractious Bedouin tribes and other groups.
Friday’s protest focused on accusations of government corruption and the sale of state assets, including industries and real estate, to private companies and businessmen. Along with the familiar calls for the ouster of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, there was a new refrain directed at the king. “Abdullah, son of Hussein,” it went, “where is the land, where?”
And in a twist on the traditional cry of support for the monarch, the crowd shouted, “Long live the Jordanian people!”
Khalid Kalaldeh, a leader of a leftist party, said that the work of a national dialogue committee he had served on had stalled after its recommendations for changes in the election law and laws governing political parties were held up by the government, pending constitutional amendments.
“The impression is that the government is only playing for time,” Kalaldeh said.
Abdullah has tried to defuse discontent by visiting neglected areas of the kingdom and pledging government funds and development programs, as well as ordering direct assistance to poor families. But protesters have said they want more than royal gifts; they want a change in a government culture seen as rife with cronyism and nepotism.
“Down with the government! Enough hereditary appointments. Enough marginalization,” shouted a group of demonstrators Friday. The group was from an Amman neighborhood populated by people from Tafileh, a restive town in the south.
Amer Sabaileh, a political scientist at the University of Jordan, called the king’s paternalistic style an anachronism. “These types of visits belong to another era, when the Ottoman ruler would bring gifts to the people,” he said. “That is over. People are judging concrete issues, and there need to be more transparent channels of connecting directly to the people and taking them seriously.”
Government officials argue that Abdullah has committed himself to reform and has not used his security forces to brutally put down the pro-democracy demonstrations, as has happened in some other Arab countries. “This is an evolution, and what is important is that it is change without chaos. Not a single shot has been fired,” said Nasser Judeh, the foreign minister. “The tone is being set from above. Reform is led by the king.”
But the continuing protests in Amman and elsewhere in the kingdom, especially in tribal areas in the south, show that many Jordanians remain unconvinced. And while the demonstrations have not crossed the line of calling for the king’s ouster, some participants caution that they could escalate if reform efforts remain stalled.
“We cannot control the street,” said Su’ud al-Ajarma, one of a group of 36 tribal figures who published an open call for reform in February. “It can erupt at any moment.”
by Joel Greenberg
Source: Washington Post
AMMAN, Jordan — At the weekly anti-government demonstration after Friday prayers here in Jordan’s capital, Malik Gheith held up a poster showing a caricature of a fearsome-looking policeman wielding a club, captioned, “Your dignity ends here.”
The message, a week after police beat peaceful protesters and journalists at a similar march in downtown Amman, was clear. “There can’t be any political reform with repression,” Gheith said. “The security forces have to stop their brutality.”
Friday’s march ended without incident, as unarmed police officers flanked the protesters, preventing any contact with a small group of pro-government demonstrators nearby. Riot police, responsible for last week’s beatings, were nowhere to be seen, and newspaper headlines highlighted King Abdullah II’s condemnation of their assaults on reporters.
After six months of weekly demonstrations inspired by the Arab Spring, Jordan’s ferment is still a managed crisis, festering but not at a tipping point, with protesters unable to generate momentum to force swift change.
The opposition is divided between youth groups and leftists on one hand and the Muslim Brotherhood on the other. The Brotherhood is perceived by its potential allies as angling for a greater piece of the government pie, rather than seeking fundamental change.
Movement toward political change has been slow, with the king promising broader public participation, such as governments based on the parliamentary majority rather than royal appointment. But little has been done to carry out those pledges, aside from a recent cabinet reshuffle widely viewed as cosmetic.
In a speech last month, the king said it would take as long as three years for mature political parties to emerge.
“After what we saw in Tunis, Egypt and Yemen, we’re surprised that in six months we haven’t been able to achieve anything,” said Islam Samhan, a member of a pro-reform coalition who was at Friday’s demonstration. “The king has not responded to the demands of the people.”
Yet that frustration has not produced calls for the overthrow of the monarchy, widely seen as the only glue that can hold together a potentially volatile mix of Palestinians and East Bank Jordanians, fractious Bedouin tribes and other groups.
Friday’s protest focused on accusations of government corruption and the sale of state assets, including industries and real estate, to private companies and businessmen. Along with the familiar calls for the ouster of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, there was a new refrain directed at the king. “Abdullah, son of Hussein,” it went, “where is the land, where?”
And in a twist on the traditional cry of support for the monarch, the crowd shouted, “Long live the Jordanian people!”
Khalid Kalaldeh, a leader of a leftist party, said that the work of a national dialogue committee he had served on had stalled after its recommendations for changes in the election law and laws governing political parties were held up by the government, pending constitutional amendments.
“The impression is that the government is only playing for time,” Kalaldeh said.
Abdullah has tried to defuse discontent by visiting neglected areas of the kingdom and pledging government funds and development programs, as well as ordering direct assistance to poor families. But protesters have said they want more than royal gifts; they want a change in a government culture seen as rife with cronyism and nepotism.
“Down with the government! Enough hereditary appointments. Enough marginalization,” shouted a group of demonstrators Friday. The group was from an Amman neighborhood populated by people from Tafileh, a restive town in the south.
Amer Sabaileh, a political scientist at the University of Jordan, called the king’s paternalistic style an anachronism. “These types of visits belong to another era, when the Ottoman ruler would bring gifts to the people,” he said. “That is over. People are judging concrete issues, and there need to be more transparent channels of connecting directly to the people and taking them seriously.”
Government officials argue that Abdullah has committed himself to reform and has not used his security forces to brutally put down the pro-democracy demonstrations, as has happened in some other Arab countries. “This is an evolution, and what is important is that it is change without chaos. Not a single shot has been fired,” said Nasser Judeh, the foreign minister. “The tone is being set from above. Reform is led by the king.”
But the continuing protests in Amman and elsewhere in the kingdom, especially in tribal areas in the south, show that many Jordanians remain unconvinced. And while the demonstrations have not crossed the line of calling for the king’s ouster, some participants caution that they could escalate if reform efforts remain stalled.
“We cannot control the street,” said Su’ud al-Ajarma, one of a group of 36 tribal figures who published an open call for reform in February. “It can erupt at any moment.”
Will The King of Jordan Replace The Jordanian Dinar?
written by: Sheila Quinn
Today I will focus on Jordan, The Global Oligarchy and Jordan's relationship with The Global Oligarchy. Do I really think that the king of Jordan currently has plans for replacing the Jordanian Dinar? I don't think so. What I do know is that the king of Jordan is a pawn of The Global Oligarchy and that The Global Oligarchy has plans to have a global currency as part of having a global government,thereby enslaving all of humanity.
The king of Jordan is obviously a pawn of the Global Oligarchy as well as a liar. If you had asked me what I thought of The King of Jordan a year ago my answer would of been very different. My perception of the king of Jordan, until The "Arab Spring", was very gentle and kind. I thought of him as my brother in Allah who was very naive about the world around him and very ignorant of The Islamic Faith. I thought he was a misguided Muslim brother who had the heart of a God fearing man. Now I see him as one who is promoting the interests of The Global Oligarchy in Jordan. Some Jordanians think that they are an independent country. But such thinking is a product of brain washing. Jordan is very much a colony, it is a colony of the global oligarchy.
When Jordan was established it was a constitutional monarchy. Yet, over the years the constitution has been changed from a constitutional monarchy to an absolute monarchy which has some of the trappings of a democracy. It is a monarchy that is under foreign control. For ten years the king of Jordan has been king. He has given much lip service to transparency, human rights, democracy and accountability. For more than ten years the king of Jordan has spoken up against corruption, yet after all this time the people have gone to the streets demanding the end to corruption. Why, after more than ten years is there still corruption? Is the king of Jordan evil and corrupt himself, or is he totally incompetent? For more than ten years he has promised political reform, yet there has been very little political reform. Why? Some individuals within his inner circle say that those of the Jordanian tribes dislike reform. This is a lie! A group of individuals that represent most of the native Jordanians (those who are members of Jordanian tribes) are in support of everything that the opposition wants. This group wants: constitutional changes that would bring it back to a constitutional monarchy; fair and just elections that would include all Jordanians, and reforms that would bring accountability and the end of corruption in government. So, as you can see both the political opposition as well as the tribes of Jordan are in agreement. Any talk that they are not in agreement is an out right lie! Why doesn't the king of Jordan agree to the demands of the opposition? Because, the global oligarchy doesn't want to lose control of the government of Jordan... that is why. Because the king of Jordan is a pawn of the oligarchy and he is doing what they want... not what is best for Jordan and the people of Jordan.
There is talk that Jordan is different from other Arab countries because its leader is a wise man. This is wrong! The turmoil that came to other Arab countries has not YET come to Jordan because the perception of the Jordanian people is that their leader is responsive to them. But the more the king of Jordan delays real reforms, the more the people of Jordan will come to realize that their perception of their leader is wrong and that he is not responsive- and will not be responsive. The more they realize this the more they will start demanding a change in regime. Even now, in the Friday protests the people are chanting "Long live Jordan"- instead of "Long live the king". This and other things that the people are chanting in the Friday protests indicate that they are starting to get fed up with delays, and that there will come a time when they will not accept any more delays. There will come a time when they will start demanding a regime change. (Allah knows best)
Today I will focus on Jordan, The Global Oligarchy and Jordan's relationship with The Global Oligarchy. Do I really think that the king of Jordan currently has plans for replacing the Jordanian Dinar? I don't think so. What I do know is that the king of Jordan is a pawn of The Global Oligarchy and that The Global Oligarchy has plans to have a global currency as part of having a global government,thereby enslaving all of humanity.
The king of Jordan is obviously a pawn of the Global Oligarchy as well as a liar. If you had asked me what I thought of The King of Jordan a year ago my answer would of been very different. My perception of the king of Jordan, until The "Arab Spring", was very gentle and kind. I thought of him as my brother in Allah who was very naive about the world around him and very ignorant of The Islamic Faith. I thought he was a misguided Muslim brother who had the heart of a God fearing man. Now I see him as one who is promoting the interests of The Global Oligarchy in Jordan. Some Jordanians think that they are an independent country. But such thinking is a product of brain washing. Jordan is very much a colony, it is a colony of the global oligarchy.
When Jordan was established it was a constitutional monarchy. Yet, over the years the constitution has been changed from a constitutional monarchy to an absolute monarchy which has some of the trappings of a democracy. It is a monarchy that is under foreign control. For ten years the king of Jordan has been king. He has given much lip service to transparency, human rights, democracy and accountability. For more than ten years the king of Jordan has spoken up against corruption, yet after all this time the people have gone to the streets demanding the end to corruption. Why, after more than ten years is there still corruption? Is the king of Jordan evil and corrupt himself, or is he totally incompetent? For more than ten years he has promised political reform, yet there has been very little political reform. Why? Some individuals within his inner circle say that those of the Jordanian tribes dislike reform. This is a lie! A group of individuals that represent most of the native Jordanians (those who are members of Jordanian tribes) are in support of everything that the opposition wants. This group wants: constitutional changes that would bring it back to a constitutional monarchy; fair and just elections that would include all Jordanians, and reforms that would bring accountability and the end of corruption in government. So, as you can see both the political opposition as well as the tribes of Jordan are in agreement. Any talk that they are not in agreement is an out right lie! Why doesn't the king of Jordan agree to the demands of the opposition? Because, the global oligarchy doesn't want to lose control of the government of Jordan... that is why. Because the king of Jordan is a pawn of the oligarchy and he is doing what they want... not what is best for Jordan and the people of Jordan.
There is talk that Jordan is different from other Arab countries because its leader is a wise man. This is wrong! The turmoil that came to other Arab countries has not YET come to Jordan because the perception of the Jordanian people is that their leader is responsive to them. But the more the king of Jordan delays real reforms, the more the people of Jordan will come to realize that their perception of their leader is wrong and that he is not responsive- and will not be responsive. The more they realize this the more they will start demanding a change in regime. Even now, in the Friday protests the people are chanting "Long live Jordan"- instead of "Long live the king". This and other things that the people are chanting in the Friday protests indicate that they are starting to get fed up with delays, and that there will come a time when they will not accept any more delays. There will come a time when they will start demanding a regime change. (Allah knows best)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
March 24 members seek to clarify misconceptions
By Thameen Kheetan
AMMAN - Members of the March 24 Youth movement gathered at a public square in Amman on Thursday night to “talk to people” and clarify “misconceptions” that have prevailed about them among many Jordanians.
Dozens of the movement’s members, supporters and Amman residents assembled at the Square de Paris in Jabal Luweibdeh to convey the ideas of the group, which last week adopted the name March 24 Youth Coalition, as a number of youth movements joined in.
The movement was launched on March 24 during a 30-hour sit-in at Amman’s Interior Ministry Circle, which ended in violence when a rival group attacked the demonstrators with stones and security forces dispersed the protesters with batons and water canons.
The coalition’s main demands include constitutional amendments whereby the government is formed from the parliamentary majority, fighting corruption and an end to the influence of security agencies in the country’s public and political life.
The incident was followed by a wave of discriminatory remarks about Jordanians of Palestinian origin on Facebook and other local news websites, with critics of the group saying March 24 activists comprise Islamists who are against the regime and want to make Jordan an “alternative homeland” for the Palestinians.
“Deception, dishonesty and lies have prevailed in the official and semi-official media after the incident,” said Firas Mahadin, a leader of March 24, noting that the idea behind Thursday’s event is “to communicate with the public and tell them who we are and what we think”.
“The main slogan that we agreed on was reforming the regime… this is not a compliment but our position,” Mahadin told The Jordan Times.
He stressed that the group comprises members from different parts of Jordan who aim to “topple the alternative homeland option” by encouraging political reforms in the Kingdom.
“Some think we are dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. Some of our activists are indeed Islamists, but we have also leftists, nationalists and others,” Mahadin, a leftist filmmaker, told two women, who said they wanted to know more about the March 24 Youth Coalition.
One of them, Manal Milhem, said she was interested in the fact that the group is a “diverse garden of several ideologies… trying to do something for the country”.
“It’s a common factor between us that we want reforms… that we want the intelligence [force] to stop its intervention,” Milhem told The Jordan Times.
While musician Ihab Abu Hammad played the oud as a group of participants sang, others continued their discussions.
“I heard that something was happening here at the square and came to see,” noted Suzan Bakri, a mother of three who lives in the neighbourhood.
“One can feel that these young people have principles that they are sticking to,” she remarked.
22 April 2011
AMMAN - Members of the March 24 Youth movement gathered at a public square in Amman on Thursday night to “talk to people” and clarify “misconceptions” that have prevailed about them among many Jordanians.
Dozens of the movement’s members, supporters and Amman residents assembled at the Square de Paris in Jabal Luweibdeh to convey the ideas of the group, which last week adopted the name March 24 Youth Coalition, as a number of youth movements joined in.
The movement was launched on March 24 during a 30-hour sit-in at Amman’s Interior Ministry Circle, which ended in violence when a rival group attacked the demonstrators with stones and security forces dispersed the protesters with batons and water canons.
The coalition’s main demands include constitutional amendments whereby the government is formed from the parliamentary majority, fighting corruption and an end to the influence of security agencies in the country’s public and political life.
The incident was followed by a wave of discriminatory remarks about Jordanians of Palestinian origin on Facebook and other local news websites, with critics of the group saying March 24 activists comprise Islamists who are against the regime and want to make Jordan an “alternative homeland” for the Palestinians.
“Deception, dishonesty and lies have prevailed in the official and semi-official media after the incident,” said Firas Mahadin, a leader of March 24, noting that the idea behind Thursday’s event is “to communicate with the public and tell them who we are and what we think”.
“The main slogan that we agreed on was reforming the regime… this is not a compliment but our position,” Mahadin told The Jordan Times.
He stressed that the group comprises members from different parts of Jordan who aim to “topple the alternative homeland option” by encouraging political reforms in the Kingdom.
“Some think we are dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. Some of our activists are indeed Islamists, but we have also leftists, nationalists and others,” Mahadin, a leftist filmmaker, told two women, who said they wanted to know more about the March 24 Youth Coalition.
One of them, Manal Milhem, said she was interested in the fact that the group is a “diverse garden of several ideologies… trying to do something for the country”.
“It’s a common factor between us that we want reforms… that we want the intelligence [force] to stop its intervention,” Milhem told The Jordan Times.
While musician Ihab Abu Hammad played the oud as a group of participants sang, others continued their discussions.
“I heard that something was happening here at the square and came to see,” noted Suzan Bakri, a mother of three who lives in the neighbourhood.
“One can feel that these young people have principles that they are sticking to,” she remarked.
22 April 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Salafists threaten to protest at Interior Ministry Circle
April 10th, 2011
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
MMAN - Jihadist Salafists plan to hold their next protest near the Interior Ministry Circle later this week in attempt to pressure authorities to release prisoners they allege are being held for preaching this conservative school that adopts a strict interpretation of Islam and preaches jihad.
“Next time it will be at the Interior Ministry Circle. We are ready to go as far as it takes to release our brothers from prisons. They are held unfairly behind bars just for being Salafists,” said one Salafist cleric, Othman Mohammad, who has taken part in several such gatherings in different towns.
On Friday, a group of Salafists from various areas took to the streets in the northern town of Irbid calling for releasing their peers, some of whom are convicted of terror-related charges.
The gathering near the city’s main mosque was the fifth of its kind in less than a month.
Relatives of detainees have also taken part in the protests, where participants have also called for eradicating corruption and greater political freedom.
The protesters came from several cities including Maan, hometown of Abu Sayyaf (Mohammad Shalabi), who is currently serving a 15-year prison term for his role in the 2002 Maan riots.
“We want Abu Sayyaf and all Salafist prisoners released. They have not committed any crime to be treated like this,” said Kareema Mohammad, whose son is in Swaqa prison for terrorism-related charges.
Many Salafist scholars promote violence, but others have renounced it since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. The first group is called jihadist Salafists, or takfiris, in reference to a trend among them to label Muslims as infidels for mere differences in religious opinion.
The government has banned protests at vital intersections like the Interior Ministry Circle, where on March 25, anti-riot police cracked down on two rival demonstrating groups, leaving scores injured, while one man died of a heart condition.
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
MMAN - Jihadist Salafists plan to hold their next protest near the Interior Ministry Circle later this week in attempt to pressure authorities to release prisoners they allege are being held for preaching this conservative school that adopts a strict interpretation of Islam and preaches jihad.
“Next time it will be at the Interior Ministry Circle. We are ready to go as far as it takes to release our brothers from prisons. They are held unfairly behind bars just for being Salafists,” said one Salafist cleric, Othman Mohammad, who has taken part in several such gatherings in different towns.
On Friday, a group of Salafists from various areas took to the streets in the northern town of Irbid calling for releasing their peers, some of whom are convicted of terror-related charges.
The gathering near the city’s main mosque was the fifth of its kind in less than a month.
Relatives of detainees have also taken part in the protests, where participants have also called for eradicating corruption and greater political freedom.
The protesters came from several cities including Maan, hometown of Abu Sayyaf (Mohammad Shalabi), who is currently serving a 15-year prison term for his role in the 2002 Maan riots.
“We want Abu Sayyaf and all Salafist prisoners released. They have not committed any crime to be treated like this,” said Kareema Mohammad, whose son is in Swaqa prison for terrorism-related charges.
Many Salafist scholars promote violence, but others have renounced it since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. The first group is called jihadist Salafists, or takfiris, in reference to a trend among them to label Muslims as infidels for mere differences in religious opinion.
The government has banned protests at vital intersections like the Interior Ministry Circle, where on March 25, anti-riot police cracked down on two rival demonstrating groups, leaving scores injured, while one man died of a heart condition.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jordanians Call for Dissolution of Parliament
By HASSAN HAFIDH
AMMAN, Jordan—Protests continued on Friday in the Jordanian capital Amman and other major cities despite bad weather conditions, demanding a quick dissolution of the country's parliament and holding national elections to choose new one.
The demonstrations were called by opposition parties, former lawmakers, independent activists and largely by the powerful Islamic Action Front, or IAF, which has threatened to boycott a political reform dialogue called by King Abdullah II and the new government of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit.
Inspired by popular revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere in the Arab World, thousands of Jordanians have held protests for weeks to demand greater political reforms that would curb swelling poverty and unemployment. The protests have been largely peaceful and haven't reached the level of violence seen elsewhere in the region.
"We want the parliament to be dissolved and the people's right to elect their own government," the IAF's head of political office Zaki Bani Rsheid told hundreds followers after Friday prayers in the city of Zarka, an Islamist stronghold around 20 miles northeast of the capital.
The heavily policed crowd in downtown Amman also called for Mr. Bakhit to step down. "Out, out Bakhit, the turn is yours," they shouted.
Rolla Jamil, an independent activist said that she took part in all protests. "We have suffered enough, I cannot pay for my flat's rent and my medical bills," she said. "Bakhit should face the same fate as his predecessor, Rafai."
King Abdullah II, who still maintains large popularity among the Jordanians, appointed Mr. Bakhit on Feb. 9, after dismissing the previous government of Samir Rafai, and ordered the new premier to implement some political changes.
The king this week urged political parties to participate in a national dialogue to widen freedoms and public participation in the decision making.
The IAF, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, however, said that it wouldn't engage in any dialogue with the government unless it agrees first to their demands for constitutional reforms so that the prime ministers and cabinet ministers are elected rather than appointed.
"We come out now every Friday to demand changes pertaining the constitution, economic policies and foreign policies," said political analyst and university professor Ibrahim Alloush, in reference to the peace treaty the kingdom signed with Israel.
The demonstration near the main mosque in central Amman also had a small counterprotest of around 100 loyalists to King Abdullah. They shouted: "With our blood and souls, we sacrifice for you Abu Hussein," in reference to the king.
On Saturday, some 10,000 Palestinian residents and Bedouin tribesmen took to the streets of the capital to support the king, the Associated Press reported.
Friday's protests were a continuation of several smaller protests that took place during the week in Amman and other cities. On Wednesday thousands of electricity workers staged protests in Amman calling for salary increases and improvement of their work conditions. The association of Jordanian physicians held a protest Sunday calling for increasing their wages.
Journalists from state-controlled media demonstrated Monday for press freedom. A statement read to the crowd demanded a halt to "intervention in the media" by the Jordanian government, and a change of the state-controlled press "to independent newspapers."
AMMAN, Jordan—Protests continued on Friday in the Jordanian capital Amman and other major cities despite bad weather conditions, demanding a quick dissolution of the country's parliament and holding national elections to choose new one.
The demonstrations were called by opposition parties, former lawmakers, independent activists and largely by the powerful Islamic Action Front, or IAF, which has threatened to boycott a political reform dialogue called by King Abdullah II and the new government of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit.
Inspired by popular revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere in the Arab World, thousands of Jordanians have held protests for weeks to demand greater political reforms that would curb swelling poverty and unemployment. The protests have been largely peaceful and haven't reached the level of violence seen elsewhere in the region.
"We want the parliament to be dissolved and the people's right to elect their own government," the IAF's head of political office Zaki Bani Rsheid told hundreds followers after Friday prayers in the city of Zarka, an Islamist stronghold around 20 miles northeast of the capital.
The heavily policed crowd in downtown Amman also called for Mr. Bakhit to step down. "Out, out Bakhit, the turn is yours," they shouted.
Rolla Jamil, an independent activist said that she took part in all protests. "We have suffered enough, I cannot pay for my flat's rent and my medical bills," she said. "Bakhit should face the same fate as his predecessor, Rafai."
King Abdullah II, who still maintains large popularity among the Jordanians, appointed Mr. Bakhit on Feb. 9, after dismissing the previous government of Samir Rafai, and ordered the new premier to implement some political changes.
The king this week urged political parties to participate in a national dialogue to widen freedoms and public participation in the decision making.
The IAF, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, however, said that it wouldn't engage in any dialogue with the government unless it agrees first to their demands for constitutional reforms so that the prime ministers and cabinet ministers are elected rather than appointed.
"We come out now every Friday to demand changes pertaining the constitution, economic policies and foreign policies," said political analyst and university professor Ibrahim Alloush, in reference to the peace treaty the kingdom signed with Israel.
The demonstration near the main mosque in central Amman also had a small counterprotest of around 100 loyalists to King Abdullah. They shouted: "With our blood and souls, we sacrifice for you Abu Hussein," in reference to the king.
On Saturday, some 10,000 Palestinian residents and Bedouin tribesmen took to the streets of the capital to support the king, the Associated Press reported.
Friday's protests were a continuation of several smaller protests that took place during the week in Amman and other cities. On Wednesday thousands of electricity workers staged protests in Amman calling for salary increases and improvement of their work conditions. The association of Jordanian physicians held a protest Sunday calling for increasing their wages.
Journalists from state-controlled media demonstrated Monday for press freedom. A statement read to the crowd demanded a halt to "intervention in the media" by the Jordanian government, and a change of the state-controlled press "to independent newspapers."
Jordan's Islamist party says its chief is under police protection after threat
By The Associated Press (CP) – 3 days ago
AMMAN, Jordan — A spokesman for Jordan's powerful Islamic Action Front says its leader has been threatened and is now under police protection.
The IAF is Jordan's largest opposition party and has been the most vocal in recent pro-reform protests, calling for the prime minister to be elected by the people instead of appointed by King Abdullah and that the parliament be dissolved.
Spokesman Abdul-Hamid Qudah said Monday that IAF's leader Hamza Mansour was threatened by unnamed youths over the weekend who called for his "departure." No attack took place.
Mansour spoke to a record crowd of 4,000 pro-reform protesters in downtown Amman in early March.
Qudah says police are now monitoring Mansour's home in Amman and interrogating suspects. Officials were not immediately available for comment.
Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press.
AMMAN, Jordan — A spokesman for Jordan's powerful Islamic Action Front says its leader has been threatened and is now under police protection.
The IAF is Jordan's largest opposition party and has been the most vocal in recent pro-reform protests, calling for the prime minister to be elected by the people instead of appointed by King Abdullah and that the parliament be dissolved.
Spokesman Abdul-Hamid Qudah said Monday that IAF's leader Hamza Mansour was threatened by unnamed youths over the weekend who called for his "departure." No attack took place.
Mansour spoke to a record crowd of 4,000 pro-reform protesters in downtown Amman in early March.
Qudah says police are now monitoring Mansour's home in Amman and interrogating suspects. Officials were not immediately available for comment.
Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press.
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