Jordan is witnessing ongoing demonstrations in support of Palestine and the resistance in Gaza (Reuters)
Jordanian authorities have arrested and harassed dozens of Jordanians who have participated in pro-Palestine protests across the country or engaged in online advocacy since October 2023, Human Rights Watch said.
She added that the authorities charged some of them under the new cybercrime law, which was widely criticized.
Jordanian lawyers representing the detainees said authorities likely arrested hundreds for participating in protests or online advocacy.
The organization indicated that it documented cases in which the authorities brought charges against 4 activists under the new cybercrime law, including the prominent activist Anas Al-Jamal, and Ayman Sandooqa, the Secretary-General of a political party.
“Jordanian authorities are trampling on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly in an attempt to suppress Gaza-related activism,” said Lama Fakih, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “In less than two months, recent government assurances that the new cybercrime law would not be used to violate rights have collapsed, as the authorities have used it.” Against the Jordanians to suppress their activity.”
The organization recalled that the Jordanian parliament “hastily” approved the “repressive” cybercrime law in August, “ignoring criticism and bypassing consultation with experts or civil society.”
According to the organization, “The law seriously undermines freedom of expression, threatens the right of Internet users to remain anonymous, and creates a new authority to control social media, which threatens to increase censorship.”
She added that over recent years, Jordan has witnessed “a prolonged shrinkage of civic space, with authorities increasingly persecuting citizens participating in peaceful organizing and political opposition, using vague and abusive laws that criminalize expression, association, and assembly.”
“The Jordanian authorities should not use a regional crisis as an excuse to restrict the rights of Jordanians to express themselves peacefully,” Fakih said. “Recent cases have proven that the authorities have abused ambiguous provisions in the cybercrime law and will continue to do so.”
Source: Human Rights Watch