CPJ urges Jordan authorities to withdraw charges and release Palestinian-Jordanian journalist News
StockSnap / Pixabay
CPJ urges Jordan authorities to withdraw charges and release Palestinian-Jordanian journalist

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Jordanian authorities to withdraw all charges and immediately release Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha on Friday.

According to the CPJ, Hiba Abu Taha was arrested on May 14 and sentenced to one-year imprisonment on June 11 for “inciting discord and strife among members of society”, and “targeting community peace and inciting violence” under the Cybercrimes Law. This came after Jordan’s Media Commission complained against Hiba Abu Taha’s April 28 article which alleged that Jordan was involved in genocide in Gaza by allowing companies to transport goods to Israel via a bridge.

CPJ’s program director in New York Carlos Martínez de la Serna said:

Jordanian authorities’ insistence on punishing reporting in the public interest using the Cybercrimes Law reeks of censorship … Jordanian authorities must immediately release Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha, drop all charges against her [] and allow all journalists to work freely to cover matters pertaining to the Israel-Gaza war.

The Cybercrimes Law was approved by King Abdullah II of Jordan on August 12 to penalize a variety of online speech, including posts that contain content ‘promoting, instigating, aiding [] or inciting immorality.” Such posts are punishable with fines or months in prison. Posts that demonstrate ‘contempt for religion’ or ‘undermining national unity’ are also prohibited. The CPJ condemned the bill when it was passed and called for its repeal.

Besides the CPJ, the bill has also been criticized by various other human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), Access Now and the Gulf Center for Human Rights, on the basis that the legislation jeopardizes “digital rights, including freedom of expression and the right to information.” HRW stated, “Such vague provisions open the door for Jordan’s executive branch to punish individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression, forcing the judges to convict citizens in most cases.”

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.