Istanbul, June 14, 2024 — Jordanian authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha, release her, and allow all journalists to cover issues related to the Israel-Gaza war without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
On June 11, the Soloh Court in Amman sentenced Abu Taha to one year in prison after convicting her of violating the Cybercrimes Law for “inciting discord and strife among members of society” and “targeting community peace and inciting violence,” according to regional press freedom group SKeyes, media reports, and the journalist’s lawyer Rami Odeh, who spoke to CPJ.
Abu Taha’s conviction came after a complaint by the Media Commission, the government agency responsible for enforcing press laws and regulations, over Abu Taha’s April 2024 article in the Lebanese Annasher website titled “Partners in genocide… Jordanian capital involved in genocide in the Gaza strip.” The article alleges that Jordan allows regional companies to ship goods to Israel via a land bridge.
In February Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh called reports of the existence of a land bridge to Israel a “fabrication.”
“Jordanian authorities’ insistence on punishing reporting in the public interest using the Cybercrimes Law reeks of censorship,” said Carlos Martínez de la Serna, CPJ’s program director in New York. “Jordanian authorities must immediately release Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha, drop all charges against her, and allow all journalists to work freely to cover matters pertaining to the Israel-Gaza war.”
Abu Taha, who has been in Juwaida prison since her arrest on May 14, plans to appeal the ruling. On May 28, her bail request was denied, her lawyer said.
In a statement to CPJ, Jordan’s media commissioner Bashir al Momani said Abu Taha’s article contained “serious insults against Jordanian state institutions, incitement to the state’s positions, and stirring up discord among the components of the people.”
Al Momani added that “the actions taken by the journalist constitute a violation of Jordanian laws, which necessitated her prosecution.”
CPJ warned of the use of the Cybercrime Law to punish journalism after it was passed in 2023. The country has arrested other journalists for their reporting on the Israel-Gaza war.
