Ammon News - by Hani Hazaimeh/ Jordan Times

AMMAN — The government on Wednesday said its decision to block unlicensed news websites was in enforcement of the Press and Publications Law, and went through the proper constitutional channels after it was endorsed by legislators last year.

Speaking to The Jordan Times on Wednesday, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said law enforcement is an important pillar in democratic societies, adding that the government has pledged to the lawmakers that it will revisit the law.

“The government is open to any constructive dialogue but this has to be done through the proper constitutional mechanisms,” Momani said.

“Our mandate includes revisiting laws that govern the media sector to ensure they meet the international criteria and secure freedom of the press. This will be done in cooperation with media stakeholders,” he added.

Momani noted that when the government intended to enforce the provisions on unlicensed websites in January this year, 90 days after the law was passed, it made sure first that the websites in question had ample time to rectify their situations.

The government even gave the websites an additional four months to obtain licences, at the request of media stakeholders, Momani added.

“Nevertheless, only 194 news websites abided by the regulations and licensed their websites, as stipulated by the law. Those who licensed started pushing for enforcement of the law to make others follow suit,” the minister said, adding that the licensing process did not impact the media freedom which regulated websites have.

The minister added that since the Press and Publications Department (PPD) began enforcing the law earlier this month, a total of 11 news websites have registered, adding that the licensing process takes less than 48 hours and only requires naming an editor-in-chief, who should be a member of the Jordan Press Association.

“The government welcomes any self-regulation that comes from within the sector itself in order to protect the profession from those who undermine professionalism, and practise unethical reporting and extortion. These individuals have negatively impacted the media investor community,” Momani said.

PPD Director Fayez Shawabkeh told The Jordan Times that “257 local news websites out of around 400” have been blocked, as they have failed to meet the law’s requirements.

In their continued campaign against the law, journalists demonstrated on Wednesday against the decision.

“… The government’s repressive decision violates the Constitution,” Nasser Lafi, editor of the Busala news website, told Agence France-Presse.

“This move harms Jordan’s reputation.”

Dozens of journalists gathered with banners that read “No to the assassination of the media”, and “Fight the corruption instead of blocking news websites”, as they demonstrated near the Royal Court in Amman, AFP reported.