Jordan's COVID-19 Response Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
Jordan has faced criticism for its handling of freedom of speech and press during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent events include the jailing of a political secretary and the closure of a teachers' union, sparking protests. The government has employed various measures to control information, including censorship laws and arrests of journalists.
In June 2020, Saeed Thyab, secretary-general of the Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party, was imprisoned for 7 days after writing an opinion piece critical of Jordan's influences. This move was likely influenced by Article 15.4 of Jordan's constitution, which allows for press censorship during emergencies. Meanwhile, the closure of the teachers' union in July 2020 led to month-long protests, with a gag order and network throttling employed to suppress news about the demonstrations.
The government has also used defense laws to control information. Defense Order No. 8, issued in April 2020, criminalized the publishing of news about the pandemic that could cause panic, with offenders facing fines up to 3,000 Jordanian dinars ($4,231 USD) and imprisonment up to 3 years. Arrests have extended beyond COVID-19 cases, with animal rights activist Ali Sarsour detained over Facebook posts in May 2020, charged with lese-majeste and insulting an official body. Additionally, Bangladeshi journalist Salim Akash remains imprisoned after circulating news about Bangladeshi migrant workers' struggles under lockdown. Earlier, journalists Faris Al-Sayegh and Muhammad Al-Khalidi were arrested and later released on bail for reporting on day laborers' financial hardships under lockdown.
Jordan's government has employed various measures to control information and suppress dissent, including arrests, censorship laws, and restrictions on citizens' rights to speech. These actions have drawn criticism and raised concerns about freedom of speech and press in the kingdom.
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