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Ammon News - By Shaherah Khatatbeh

AMMONNEWS - Journalists and activists staged a protest Thursday in front of the Upper House of Parliament against the approval of a controversial article in the Anti-Corruption law which they view as curbing press freedoms.


The Jordanian Senate on Thursday decided to cancel its last session of the extraordinary session which was scheduled to deliberate on the 2011 amended Anti-Corruption Commission Law that was passed by the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday.

Journalists covered their mouths with tape and the words "article 23," in Arabic, as they protest over proposed changes to the anti-corruption law they believe will muzzle press freedoms.

Representatives of political, youth, and nationalist movements participated in the protest, members of parliament, in addition to Jordanian professional associations and opposition political parties, in a stance aimed to defend freedom of the press and the media's role in exposing corruption.

Journalists and advocates went in uproar on Tuesday after lawmakers passed the law containing the controversial Article 23, which includes provisions that any person or party that charges another of corruption without providing lawful evidence with the purpose of slander or defamation and character assassination will be subjected to a fine of a minimum of JD 30,000 to a maximum of JD 60,000.

Observers and several MPs who opposed the controversial article blasted that the stipulation aims to 'fortress corruption and corrupt officials,' and contradicts the reform principles publicly propagated by the legislative and executive branches.



* Ammon News Photo / Basil Okoor(left) and Hamad Hajjaya (right) covered their mouths with tape/ By Anas Damra