Beirut, May 8, 2024 — After the Al-Yarmouk TV channel was raided on Tuesday night, the Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on Jordanian authorities to ensure the outlet can reopen and work freely without fear of reprisal.
On May 7, 2024, Jordanian security forces stormed the Al-Yarmouk offices in the capital, Amman, confiscated the broadcaster’s equipment, and banned its employees from re-entering the channel’s offices, according to the channel and multiple media reports. Al-Yarmouk is a privately owned channel that has been operating in Jordan for 12 years and is affiliated with the Islamist movement in Jordan.
Those sources reported that the unidentified security agencies were acting on orders from a public prosecutor to close the channel “due to its unauthorized activity and broadcasting from Jordan without obtaining official governmental approvals.”
“CPJ is appalled by the closure of the Al-Yarmouk TV channel in Jordan and the recent spike in persecution of journalists in the country,” said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna in New York. “CPJ calls on the Jordanian authorities to allow all journalists and media outlets to do their job freely and without fear of retaliation.”
Al-Yarmouk said in a Facebook statement that it had filed for a Jordanian license that was yet to be approved. The channel said they had faced similar closures in the past and were previously acquitted of similar charges by the Jordanian judiciary.
Al-Yarmouk said it was unclear why they were targeted.
Al-Yarmouk has aired content from the Hamas-affiliated broadcaster Al-Aqsa TV since the French satellite operator Eutelsat stopped the outlet from broadcasting in October 2023, according to a post by the channel.
CPJ’s email to Jordan’s Ministry of Information for comment did not immediately receive a response.