Amendment of the Jordanian Press law- update

After four years of bickering, the Jordanian lower house of Parliament voted on March 21, 2007 to scrap the imprisonment of journalists in the Press Law following the Upper House’s insistence that the related article 38 be cancelled.

The Lower House has persistently rejected arguments and lobbying all last year aimed at cancelling the controversial article and voted obstinately in favor of maintaining imprisonment of journalists. However, last week, the Upper house, otherwise known as the king’s council, returned the law to the lower house recommending that article 38 be canceled. The latter automatically accepted the amendment as it implies it is the king’s wish.

King Abdullah II had met with journalists earlier following his visits abroad to brief and update politicians and journalists on the kingdom’s policies. Some daring journalists brought up the press law controversy and plead the king to reject the law.  

Parliament which finally cancelled the imprisonment provision replaced it with exaggerated fines reaching 28,000 Jordanian Dinars (around 40,000 dollars) for defamation, libel charges, insult to religious beliefs,  or material that fuel sectarianism or racism.

The cancellation of the article is certainly a victory for the press corps in Jordan. However, the fact remains that other laws allow for detention and imprisonment of journalists and writers including the Penal Code and the State Security Court Law.