Country: Jordan

Perceived to be one of the most stable countries in the region, human rights in Jordan continue to be severely undermined by abusive measures within the framework of counterterrorism.

The broad and vaguely defined 2014 Anti-Terrorism Law allows for abuses to be committed by the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) and the State Security Court (SSC). The GID, which is directly controlled by the king, routinely subject detainees to torture and hold them incommunicado. The SSC, an exceptional jurisdiction whose judges are appointed by the executive, systematically sentences defendants to heavy penalties following severely unfair trials during which confessions extracted under torture are admitted as evidence.

Furthermore, peaceful dissenting voices are systematically brought before the SSC on trumped-up charges of terrorism, which are, in certain cases, coupled with accusations of lèse-majesté. Journalists and media workers face additional restrictions and often practice self-censorship to avoid facing prosecution.

Implementing the Convention against Torture: Jordan’s fourth periodic review by the CAT

MENA Rights Group submitted this report to the Committee against Torture detailing Jordan’s implementation in law and practice of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Jordan must stop the repression against human rights defenders and pro-Palestine activism

On July 5, 2024, the UN Human Rights Council met to adopt the outcome report for Jordan’s Universal Periodic Review. MENA Rights Group, Front Line Defenders and the Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in MENA delivered a joint oral statement condemning the Jordanian government’s repression of civic space in the context of the […]

Jordanian activist Ahmed al-Atoum’s mother dies while he serves his 10-year prison sentence in the UAE for Facebook posts

MENA Rights Group leads a coalition of human rights organisations in calling on UAE authorities to immediately release arbitrarily detained Jordanian activist Ahmed al-Atoum after his mother’s sudden passing. While al-Atoum is serving a 10-year sentence for Facebook posts criticising Jordanian authorities, he did not get a chance to say goodbye to his mother, nor […]

Universal Periodic Review of Jordan: joint report to the UN Human Rights Council

In the context of the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), MENA Rights Group and Human Rights Foundation submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council detailing Jordan’s main human rights issues and provided suitable recommendations.

Emirati dissident disappears in Jordan, risking forcible return to the UAE

Khalaf Abdul Rahman Abdulla Humaid al-Romaithi is a member of the “UAE 94”, a group of 94 Emirati scholars, activists, lawyers, doctors, and human rights defenders who were tried in 2013 after signing a petition that asked for democratic reforms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On July 2, 2013, he was convicted in absentia […]

النظام الداخلي لمجلس النواب لعام 2013

Jordanian activist Kamil al-Zoubi repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for peaceful online expression

Kamil al-Zoubi is a Jordanian political activist. Since the beginning of the Arab Spring in late 2010, he participated in peaceful protests calling for reforms and accountability for corruption. Since 2014, he was detained in prison about 10 times for periods ranging from two weeks to nine months. In addition, he was arrested and detained for a […]