Jordanian journalist Mohammad Faraj was detained on December 12, 2025 at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan upon his arrival. The 43-year-old who works for Beirut-based pro-Hezbollah broadcaster Al-Mayadeen TV, was with his wife, journalist Rana Abi Jumaa, who witnessed his arrest.
Abi Jumaa told CPJ that she and the family had been unable to see Faraj, who they believe is being held at the General Intelligence Department, without legal representation, or given a reason for his detention.
Al-Mayadeen TV has called for Faraj’s release and political parties have condemned his detention.
Faraj’s work routinely critiques the policies of the U.S. and the NATO military alliance but he has not written about Jordanian politics for Al-Mayadeen TV since 2024.
Jordan has implemented various restrictions on press freedom, with a cybercrime law used to prosecute journalists and multiple news sites banned.
Tareq al-Momani, president of the Jordan Press Association, told CPJ that he was not aware of the reason for Faraj’s arrest but the syndicate was monitoring the case.
The communist-affiliated news outlet Al-Jamaheer said that Faraj may have been detained because of his work with Al-Mayadeen TV, whose coverage tends to be pro-Iranian. Jordan is allied with the U.S. and Israel.
CPJ did not receive a response to its request for comment sent via the General Intelligence Department website.
Faraj was released on December 31, 2025.