Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - In a mass demonstration against the recent changes to the Press and Publications Law, which was held at the sit- in journalists’ tent in Amman, activists, journalists, civil society organizations and national figures gathered to announce the launch of the Civil Coalition against the New Press and Publications Law. In the launch, participants express categorical opposition against the law recently passed by lawmakers and endorsed by the King, describing it as “shameful” and pledged to fight it in all possible legal and civil means.
The launch of the Coalition comes as a result of obstinate attitude by Jordanian officials in insisting on passing the law despite the resulting outcome of restricting media and press freedoms, and also extends to freedoms of expression and opinion. This law revives the memory of an era passed, where the authorities held a tight grip around the media in all its forms, chocking up any attempts to empower independent and objective press. This outcaste law puts Jordan on the list of authoritarian states that are hostile to Internet freedoms.
In light of this law, publishers of online news websites announced their rejection of the law and vowed to instigate “electronic disobedience” by refusing to abide by its stipulations. Journalists renewed their calls to the Jordanian regime to reconsider the law and reach a compromise draft that guarantees, for both sides, an organized and regulated electronic media sector that is in accordance with international media conventions and regulations.
Below is the statement, followed by supporting signatories:
Declaration Announcing Launch of the Civil Coalition Against the New Press and Publications Law
All the political parties, trade unions, civil society organizations, and public figures signing this statement announce:
1. Forming a civil coalition against the amended 2012 Jordanian press and publications law, due to the tight restrictions it imposes on press freedoms, freedom of expression and opinion, and a new attempt to stifle electronic media.
2. Announce their unconditional support to public freedom, particularly press freedoms, and its absolute backing of all Jordanian electronic news websites in confronting the latest wave of governmental campaigns against the press, which began last decade.
We take this stand in an attempt to raise the ceiling of freedoms in Jordan and ensure that all citizens have the right and access to knowledge.
The launching of the coalition is based on the following:
1. The recent amendments to the Press and Publications Law, which stifle freedoms of expression and opinion, contradict the reform measures that Jordanians are demanding.
2. Our refusal of trusteeship on the freedom of expression, and using legislation as means to impose restrictions that violate the basic rights of citizens.
3. The new amendments to the Press and Publications Law contradict Constitutional Article No. 7, which guarantees protection of personal freedoms, and that any violation of the rights or public freedoms or private live of Jordanians is a crime punishable by law.
4. The new amendments contradict Constitutional Article No. 15, which stipulates that the state guarantees freedom of opinion, and that every Jordanian has the right to express their opinion freely whether by saying, writing, copying, and all means of expression with the condition of not trespassing the limits of the law.
5. Amendments to the law also conflict with the nature of cyberspace, which is an open and wide platform, with no restrictions. It is also an interactive media platform that contributed to the creation of “citizen journalist” trend, away from any governmental conditions aimed mainly to control this space.
6. These amendments conflict with international standards adopted in the fields of media freedoms, internet freedoms, and personal freedoms, as follows:
a. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
b. Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which states “1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference, 2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice, 3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
c. Article 3 of the Arab Charter on Human Rights, which states: “(a.) Each State Party to the present Charter undertakes to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the right to enjoy all the rights and freedoms recognized herein, without any distinction on grounds of race, color, sex, language, religion, opin- ion, thought, national or social origin, property, birth or physical or mental disability; (b) The States Party to the present Charter shall undertake necessary measures to guarantee effective equality in the enjoyment of all rights and liberties established in the present Charter, so as to pro- tect against all forms of discrimination based on any reason men- tioned in the previous paragraph.
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It is well known that Jordan has signed and ratified on the above international charters and conventions, which are supreme to local laws, and necessitate local laws be amended to be in accordance with the spirit and text of the conventions.
The Civil Coalition Against the Press and Publications Law announces its rejection of this law that restricts freedoms, in particular freedoms of expression, the press, and the Internet. The Coalition stresses that it will endeavor to topple this law, legally and popularly, and will support calls for electronic disobedience and non-compliance with the law.
Signatories:
Professional Syndicates
Azem Qaddoumi / Chairman of Jordanian Professional Associations
Dr.Ahmad Armouti/ Chairman of Jordan Medical Association
Hussien Al-Khateeb/ Chairman of Jordan Artists Association
Mustafa Al-Rawashde / Chairman of Jordan Teachers Association
Bahjat Odwan/ Chairman of Jordan Geologists Association
Tariq Al-Momani/ Chairman of Jordan Press Association
Independent trade unions
Independent Syndicate of Phosphate Sector Employees
National Political Parties and Movements
The Muslim brotherhood
Islamic Action Front political party
Jordanian Popular Unity political party
Jordan Communist political party
Jordan Social National Liberty political party
National Front for Reform
Higher National Committee for Military Veterans
Coordination of Jordanian Movements
Youth Coalition for Reform and Change – Maan
Nationalist Progressive Current
Ayasra Movement
Southern Mazar Movement
Youth and Popular Movement of Karak
Ajloun Movement
Dheiban Movement
Hay Al Tafaileh Free Movement
Capital Amman Free Movement
Arab Renewal Movement
Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners
Coalition of Jordanian Tribes
Citizenship and Civil Thought Association
Amman Teachers Free Committee
Liberation and Change Current
Socialist Left Movement
“Secularists for Civil State” Group
Civil Society Organizations
Center for Protection and Freedom of Journalists
Adaala Center for Human Rights Studies
Hayat Center for Development of Civil Society
Hawiyya Center
Al Fayneq Center for Studies
Jordan Partners Center
Sindiyan Association / Ajloun
East-West Center for Development of Human Resources
Academy of Change for Human Rights Studies
Amman Center for Human Rights Studies
Jerusalem Center for Political Studies
Equality Center for Democracy Research and Studies Center
Association of Lawyers Defending Human Rights
Basar Institute for Civil Society Studies
Al Badeel Studies Center
Arab Organization for Human Rights
Jordanian Association for Human Rights
Roots Center for Human Rights
Social Media Network
Jordanian Commission for Democratic Culture
Mizaan Group for Human Rights
Da’em Center
Hor Ya Net Movement
Arab Female Journalists Center
Inbi’aath Civilizational Center
Jordanian Association for Convention on National Morals
Radical Magazine Editorial Board
Public, national figures, and Political Activists:
Laith Shbeilat
Mohammad Hammouri / former Minister
Toujan Faisal / former Member of Parliament
Labib Qamhawi / Political Activist
Khalil Attiyah / Current MP
Abdullah Nsour / Current MP
Bassam Hadadeen / Current MP
Hosni Sheyyab / Current MP
Wasfi Rawashdeh / Current MP
Jamil Nimri / Current MP
Abla Abu Elbeh / Current MP
Sheikh Salim Falahat
Khaled Ramadan
Khaled Khalalde
Fahmi Katkout
Abdul Razeq Bani Hani
Raed Odwan
Dr. Saeed Theyab
Dr.Muneer Hamarneh
Sheik Khalaf Al Hadid
Eng.Badi Al Rafaya
Maysara Malas
Dr.Fakher Daas
Dr.Akram Kreshan
Retired brigadier Musa Al-Hadeed
Researcher Dr.Ahmad Madi
Activist Ahmad Oqab
Activist Eng.Waleed Al – Masri
Activist Basel Bashabshe
Activist Dr. Ali Al Habashneh
Activist Sami Shreim
Former minister Rakan Al-Majale
Journalist Mahasen Al-Emam
Political activist Salem Al-Eifa
Political activist Fouad Qubeilat
Political Activist Yaser Al-Ouran
Lawyer Mohammad Al-Harasees
Columnist Nahed Hattar
Lawyer Saleh Al-Armouti
Political activist Dr.Hashem Abu Hassan
Political activist Durgham Halase
Former MP Dr.Ali Al Dalaeen
Former minister Dr.Mohammad Kher Mamser
Political activist Dr.Abdulla Faraj Alla
Researcher Dr.Shafiq Duwaik
Eng.Ghazi Al Khateeb
Activist Hasan Haydar
Political activist Mohammad Saleh Abu Tarboush
Former MP. Dr.Ouda Qawwas
Former MP. Rawhi Shuhaltoug
Former MP. Mubarak Abu Yamen
Activist Ismael Burghol
Activist Wael Dumoor
Activist Samer Al-Qasem
Researcher and activist Osama Kanaan
Union activist Mohammad Al-Saneed
Political activist Dr.Mohammad Kafaween
Political activist Sabri Akroush
Lawyer and activist Rudwan Al-Nawayseh
Lawyer Nour Al-Emam
Activist Maher Salameh
Activist Dr.Sulaiman Suweis
Activist Emad Al Deek
Actor Mohammad Qabbani
Actor Suheir Fahad
Researcher Hani Hourani
Political activist Omar Abu Rassa
Political activist Jamal Al-Tahat
Political activist Mahmoud Ameen Heyari
Writer Jamal Naje
Writer Jamal Al Qaisi
Activist Sameeh Barari
Activist Rajab Jubara
Political Activist Dr.Ahmad Zeyad Abu Ghunaimeh
Writer Jamal Al-Shawaheen
Writer Saleem Mohammad Abu Mahfouz
Activist Yousef Akroush
Activist Hamza Fouad Rasheed
Activist Moufaq Zeyadat
Activist Ali Al-Barayse
Activist Mahmoud Hamshari
Activist Mousa Abdullat
Activist Humam Qarara
Activist Nedal Klaleyani