(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is protesting the arrest of Abdel Karim Barghouti, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper “Al-Bilad”. On 23 August 1999, Jordanian authorities arrested Barghouti after a state prosecutor issued a 14 day detention order against him, reportedly for defaming Prime Minister Abdel-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh’s son, Issam Rawabdeh. According to media reports and sources at […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is protesting the arrest of Abdel Karim Barghouti,
editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper “Al-Bilad”.
On 23 August 1999, Jordanian authorities arrested Barghouti after a state
prosecutor issued a 14 day detention order against him, reportedly for
defaming Prime Minister Abdel-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh’s son, Issam Rawabdeh.
According to media reports and sources at “Al-Bilad”, Barghouti’s arrest
resulted from an article published in last week’s edition of “Al-Bilad”,
alleging that Issam Rawabdeh had harassed a group of female nurses aboard a
bus last month.
Barghouti was initially detained on 22 August. He was released on bail the
same day, and then rearrested on Monday 23 August. According to a number of
his colleagues, Barghouti, who is in his sixties, suffers from a heart
ailment. It is feared that this detention will further aggravate his health.
Barghouti’s arrest comes less than a month after the 25 July arrest of
journalist Sinan Shaqdeh of the evening daily “Al-Massaeyah”. Shaqdeh was
arrested at his home without charge by General Intelligence agents and held
for over two weeks. During his detention, Shaqdeh was questioned about
several news articles that he had written for “Al-Massaeyah” and other
Jordanian newspapers, including a story that appeared in “Al-Massaeyah”
citing critical comments reportedly made by the Syrian ambassador to Jordan
on the issue of Jordanian prisoners in Syria. Shaqdeh was also questioned
about his news coverage of Palestinian affairs. He was eventually released
on 10 August, following the reported intervention of King Abdullah II.
As with the case of Shaqdeh, CPJ views the arrest of Barghouti as a grave
attack on press freedom in Jordan. Whether carried out arbitrarily, by court
order, or within the context of Jordanian law, depriving journalists of
their liberty because of their work violates the most fundamental norms for
press freedom as guaranteed by international law. Such actions serve only to
stifle the free debate that is essential in a democratic society.
The Barghouti and Shaqdeh cases are only the most recent examples of
Jordanian
authorities arresting or detaining journalists in response to their
published work. For several years CPJ, along with Jordanian journalists and
both local and international human rights organizations, has protested this
pattern of abuse to numerous Jordanian governments. Regrettably, the arrests
of editors and reporters continue, with chilling consequences for the work
of the Jordanian press.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
that he be allowed to carry out his professional duties without interference
from authorities
under which journalists can be arrested for what they publish, and enacting
legal safeguards to protect journalists from arrest or detention
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdel-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh
c/o His Excellency Ambassador Marwan Muasher
Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
3504 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
United States of America
E-mail: info@nic.gov.jo
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
