Ammon News - AMONNEWS - Members of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) Council on Wednesday submitted their resignation to the syndicate's general assembly to be effective if Article 23 of the Anti-Corruption law is officially endorsed.

JPA President Tareq Momani and head of the Freedoms Committee Jihad Abu Baidar wagered their resignation with the endorsement of the 2011 Anti-Corruption Law without the removal of the controversial Article 23, which has been viewed as a setback to press freedom and efforts to expose and combat corruption.

JPA Board members declared during an emergency meeting on Wednesday that Article 23 constitutes a major threat to freedoms and liberties in Jordan, particularly press freedoms in imposing hefty fines on efforts to expose corruption.

Article 23 of the Anti-Corruption law passed by Parliament on Tuesday, stipulates that anyone who spreads rumors or attributes to an individual, without a good cause or any lawful foundation, acts of corruption that defames or slanders such a person, shall be punished by imprisonment of no less than six months and a fine of no less than JD 30,000 and not exceeding JD 60,000.

The JPA board informed Senate President Taher Masri of its resignation decision, in an effort to deter the Upper House of Parliament from passing the article in its session scheduled to be held on Thursday as it was referred to it by the government.