The Case

Criticising the Jordanian Government:

Former member of the Jordanian Parliament Toujan al-Faisal was arrested Saturday, March 16, 2002 following her public criticism of the Jordanian government. She began a hunger strike on March 17th to protest her arrest, and was released from Jweidah prison in Amman for health reasons. The charges against her include "publishing false materials deemed harmful to the country's reputation and that of its citizens", as well as seditious libel and slander, misdemeanors punishable by three to six months of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 5,000 Jordanian dinars under Article 150 of the Jordanian Penal Code. She has been accused by the Jordanian judiciary of being untruthful during an interview with an Arab satellite TV station, and was also said to have posted a statement on the Internet accusing key members of the government of corruption.

On May 15th, 2002, Ms. Faisal was sentenced to 18 months in jail and a 20 dinar fine. The sentence was issued by the Jordanian State Security court, and could not be appealed. However, King Abdullah has the right to repeal it.

Background:

Ms al-Faisal's arrest was one of several during the last few months, including the arrests of Taj Eddine al-Harroub (owner) and Hashem al-Khalidi (chief editor) of al-Bilad newspaper.

The arrests were based on recent laws passed through a provisional order in the absence of Parliament, in the wake of the 11 September events, and that came into effect on 2 October 2001, immediately after approval by King 'Abdallah bin Hussein. They place "limitations on the freedom of expression by making illegal a number of new vaguely defined offences in relation to harming national unity; harming the prestige, integrity and reputation of the state; inciting disturbances, sit-downs and unauthorised public meetings; causing harm to the dignity, reputation or personal freedom of individuals; destabilising society through the promotion of deviance and immorality; and dissemination of false information and rumours". Amnesty International has repeatedly stated that "All laws allowing for the detention of those exercising their right to the freedom of expression should be immediately repealed," and urged the Jordanian government to bring the country's legislation into line with international human rights law.

Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Jordan has ratified, establishes the right to freedom of expression which includes the "... freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of [one's] choice."