Jordan / Middle East & North Africa

  

In Jordan, proposed amendments to censor Internet

New York, August 31, 2012–Proposed legislation in Jordan would impose significant new restrictions on online news content and reader comments while giving authorities new powers to block domestic and international websites. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the lower house of parliament to reject the bill when it takes up debate on Sunday.

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Jordanian journalist arrested over critical article

New York, April 25, 2012–Jordanian journalist Jamal al-Muhtaseb has been detained since Monday on antistate charges after publishing an article alleging misconduct by the Royal Court, according to news reports. Al-Muhtaseb’s sister, the author of the article, was also arrested but was released the same day, news reports said.

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In Jordan, blogger stabbed after criticizing the royal family

New York, February 29, 2012–Jordan authorities must undertake a serious investigation into the stabbing of a blogger who wrote critically about the Jordanian royal family, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Photographers take cover during November protests in Tahrir Square. (AFP/Mahmud Hams)

Attacks on the Press: From Uprisings, Trends to Watch

The Middle East’s political shifts changed conditions for journalists dramatically. The emerging trends favor free expression, but are filled with ambiguity and depend on the political configurations to emerge after the revolutionary dust has settled. By Mohamed Abdel Dayem

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Attacks on the Press in 2011: Jordan

Security forces tried to restrict coverage of the country’s civil unrest by attacking journalists covering pro-reform protests, often confiscating or destroying their equipment. Authorities raided the office of a news website in April, destroying equipment and threatening staff members. The same month, Al-Jazeera received a series of threats that its offices and journalists would be…

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Jordan’s anti-corruption bill would restrict press

New York, September 30, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is disheartened by the passage in Jordan’s lower chamber of Parliament of a draft anti-corruption law which would allow heavy fines for publishing information on corruption, and calls on the upper chamber to reject the bill. 

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CPJ calls on Jordan to prevent attacks on journalists

New York, July 18, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on the government of Jordan to do more to prevent attacks on journalists who cover demonstrations and other forms of civil unrest. On Friday, security forces beat 16 journalists in identifying orange vests during a demonstration and planned sit-in that rapidly devolved into clashes between security…

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Protesters shout slogans against the media in front of the AFP office in Amman after the agency ran a story about the president's motorcade. (Reuters/Ali Jarekji)

In Jordan, attacks on the press go unpunished

New York, June 21, 2011–On the heels of an attack on Agence France-Presse’s Amman offices, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Jordanian government to hold to account those who threaten or attack journalists.

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CPJ condemns attack on office of news website

New York, April 19, 2011–Six men raided the office of a news website in Amman on Monday, threatening its staff and destroying equipment. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the assault on Al-Muharrir and calls on Jordanian authorities to investigate the attack thoroughly.

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Syrians living in Jordan protest in solidarity with anti-government protesters in Syria. (Reuters/Majed Jaber)

Threats to Al-Jazeera in Jordan; journalists released in Syria

New York, April 5, 2011–Al-Jazeera staffers in Jordan have received anonymous threatening phone calls warning that their office and correspondents would be attacked, Al-Jazeera’s Amman bureau chief told CPJ. Journalists in Jordan have been facing mounting dangers while covering pro-reform demonstrations, CPJ research has found.

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