Jordanian journalist Ahmed al-Zoubi, a satirical writer and publisher of the Sawalif news website, is serving a one-year prison sentence due to his social media posting. Al-Zoubi was also a columnist at state-owned newspaper Al Ra’i before his arrest, but has since been fired.
On July 2, 2024, Jordanian authorities arrested al-Zoubi 11 months after he was fined 50 dinars (US$70) and sentenced to one year in prison for a Facebook post criticizing the government’s position on a controversial December 2022 transportation workers’ strike, according to multiple media reports and al-Zoubi’s lawyer, Khaled Jit, who spoke to CPJ.
Al-Zoubi was convicted under Jordan’s Cybercrime Law of “the crime of performing an act that led to provoking conflict between the elements of the nation.” CPJ, along with other rights organizations, has criticized the 2023 law.
Al-Zoubi’s lawyer told CPJ that there were procedural errors during the trial and asked the court to consider an alternative punishment to prison, though it has not yet been granted.
Al-Zoubi is now in Marka prison in the capital, Amman, his lawyer said, and he has been able to intermittently receive visitors. His diabetes has worsened behind bars and he is taking painkillers for severe pain, said his lawyer.
CPJ’s email to Jordan’s Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior of Jordan, and the Ministry of Information for comment on his case in late 2024 did not receive any responses.