(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 6 September 2000 – for immediate release JORDAN JOURNALIST BANNED FOR NGO ACTIVITIES Nidal Mansour, Secretary General of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) and Chief Editor of weekly Al-Hadath, has been expelled by the Press Association’s council and banned from working as a journalist […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
6 September 2000 – for immediate release
JORDAN JOURNALIST BANNED FOR NGO ACTIVITIES
Nidal Mansour, Secretary General of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) and Chief Editor of weekly Al-Hadath, has been expelled by the Press Association’s council and banned from working as a journalist for a year. ARTICLE 19 today condemned the move as a serious attack on those attempting to develop civil society and promote human rights in Jordan.
Expulsion from the JPA, if ratified by the High Court of Justice (1), bans any journalist from working legally, since the law dictates that all practising members of the profession must belong to the JPA.
The decision has been taken in connection with Nidal Mansour’s involvement with the Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists, a non-governmental organisation of which he is a president. He is being penalised for contravening the JPA’s by-laws by not working full-time as a journalist, and because the centre received funds from overseas for its activities.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“Rather than penalising JPA members and officials for trying to promote and protect the rights to freedom of association and expression, including through non-governmental organisations, we urge the Jordan Press Association to use its influence and power to support and encourage them in this
important work.”
“Mandatory membership of an organisation for journalists is illegitimate (2) for reasons which are all too clear in this case – it prevents certain individuals from practising as journalists, prevents journalists from taking a second profession and leaves the profession open to political interference,” he added.
Jordan has an obligation to uphold freedom of expression and association both as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in accordance with Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution.
Notes for editors
1. Nidal Mansour has to appeal to the High Court against the decision within 60 days, or it automatically becomes final.
2. The mandatory membership requirement under Jordanian law that all journalists be members of the Jordan Press Association is contrary to international and constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression. This is supported by international jurisprudence and international law, which draws a clear distinction in this area between journalism and other professions.
