Blog: Jordan Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Blog | Jordan

After outcry, Jordan rolls back repressive measures

By Rima Marrouch/CPJ Middle East and North Africa Research Associate

CPJ had urged King Abdullah II to reconsider online restrictions. (Reuters/Ali Jarekji)

Jordanian journalists succeeded this week in turning back some of the most repressive aspects of a new law on cyber crimes. The initial version of the law, approved by the cabinet of ministers on August 3, included broad restrictions on material deemed by the state to be defamatory or to involve national security. It also allowed law enforcement officials to conduct warrantless searches of online outlets. Facing domestic protests and international pressure from CPJ and others, the cabinet revised the measure on Sunday.

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Blog | Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jordan, Pakistan

Journalists on raided flotilla leaving Israel, speaking out

By Rima Marrouch/CPJ Middle East and North Africa Research Associate

Firsthand accounts from reporters who were on the flotilla of humanitarian activists raided by Israeli forces on Monday are finally coming out as the journalists are released from custody. These early reports indicate that soldiers harassed international journalists—at least six had their equipment either confiscated or destroyed, according to CPJ interviews and news reports. Media accounts have indicated that 60 journalists or more were aboard the ships; on Tuesday, CPJ independently verified the names and affiliations of 20 journalists who had been taken into custody.

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Blog | Jordan

Jordan may extend repressive law to electronic media

By Mohamed Abdel Dayem/Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator

Jordan’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest judicial authority, issued an opinion last week stating that Web sites can be classified as “publications” and recommending that the Press and Publications Law be extended to online news sites and other electronic media. This decision, while not yet the law of the land, sets a legal precedent that lower courts can reference in future rulings, Jordan Bar Association official Ahmad Ghannam told The Jordan Times.

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Blog | Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia

Defending al-Zaidi, but not journalists at home

By Mariwan Hama-Saeed/Middle East Research Associate

The now infamous incident of Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi throwing his shoes at President George Bush became primetime news throughout the world. In the Middle East it has been shown on television almost endlessly.

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