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Ammon News - By Anas Damra and Shaherah Khatatbeh

AMMONNEWS - hundreds of activists took to the streets on Friday to protest the security forces' attacks on journalists and pro-Reform activists on Friday, July 15th.

They expressed solidarity with journalist and called for press freedom, and denounced the security forces' use of excessive force last Friday during a pro-democracy demonstration in Al Nakhil Square near downtown Amman.

They chanted, "Let the voice of youth rise, suppression of the press is terrorism."

The demonstration, dubbed "The Friday of Dignity and Press Freedoms" launched from Al Husseini Mosque following Friday midday prayer, and marched towards Al Nakhil Square - amidst heavy security presence - chanting slogans calling for ousting Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's government and dissolving the parliament.

Protesters burnt an American flag, expressing rejection of what they considered "American meddling in Jordanian affairs."

The anti-government slogans on Friday escalated, with protestors accusing the government of patroning rampant and endemic corruption, and accused the parliament of "cowardice" in what they described as the lawmaker's incompetence to legislate or practice its oversight role over the government.

They blasted the rise of Jordan's debt this year, which reached over $17 billion, and the privatization of Jordan's most vital entities, including the phsphates, Potash, Port of Aqaba, etc.

Some protestors chanted slogans asking the monarch "where the country's resources are going?"

“ 111 cowards, they sold Jordan for free, the corrupt government stole the peoples money," they chanted.

Several reform movements took part in Friday's protest, including activists from the Hay Al Tafiaileh neighborhood in Amman, Madaba's Dhiban youth movement, opposition political parties, and representatives from the Jordanian professional associations and populist youth coalition for reform (July 15th), in addition to a number of journalists who were attacked last week.

The participants also showed solidarity with the Syrian people and called for toppling Syrian president Bashar Assad's regime for what they described as perpetrating massacres against peaceful unarmed civilians there.

They also called for dismantling the State Security Court, and putting an end to the encroachment of security apparatus in all walks of life, according to their expression.

The protestors chanted slogans in support of national unity, stressing that the pro-reform activism is nation-wide, chanting "From Tafileh to Dhiban, Jordanian people will not be undermined," "Jordanians and Palestinians, united against corruption."

“Tafila rise up rise up the Reforms will come”





*Ammon News photo / Anas Damra