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New press laws spark uproar in Jordan
In this story: May 28, 1997
Web posted at: 8:49 p.m. EDT (0049 GMT)From Correspondent Ben Wedeman
AMMAN (CNN) -- The news is big news these days in Jordan.
Last week the Jordanian government amended the country's press law. The result: a longer list of prohibited topics and dramatically higher fines for offending journalists.
The new law also raises the capital requirements for newspapers from about $20,000 to nearly $500,000. The intent, officials say, is to protect the country.
"There were many stories that were published that caused a great deal of damage to Jordan's standing, reputation and image abroad," said Samir Mutawa, Jordan's information minister.
As an example, he cited a "sensational story (that) said the World Bank asked Jordan to raise the price of bread. There was a run on the dinar. Within 48 hours the central bank lost $200 million out of its reserves," Mutawa said.
Union leaders resign in protest
The restrictions have caused an uproar in Jordan. The leaders of four professional unions -- lawyers, engineers, dentists and writers -- resigned in protest. And the heads of nine other professional unions also have threatened to step down.
The backlash prompted King Hussein to step into the fray with a rebuke to Jordan's professional unions. "God willing, the time will come when everyone will mind their own work and business," he said.
Hussein said he did not want to see "an official from the veterinary union threatening his resignation or declaring a protest against amendments in the press law."
Flamboyant tabloids suffer
The main victims of the new law are Amman's flamboyant weekly papers. These colorful tabloids thrive on gossip, scandal and intrigue and are generally harsh critics of Jordan's peace treaty with Israel.
The revised press law went into effect by royal decree. With parliament in recess the legislation was not debated and remains a temporary law until a new parliament sits after elections, scheduled for later this year.
But many argue that the implications of the new law go beyond the press. "I think in the future it will affect the democratic process, which is still at its beginnings and the civil liberties in the Jordanian society," said former prime minister and parliament member Taher al-Masri.
'Revision of the democratic path'
The Star is one of Amman's oldest weeklies. Published in English, it is generally critical of the government, but has never been taken to court.
The Star's publisher says his newspaper may have to close down. But the issue here is greater than debt.
"In my opinion it's not a matter of closing a few weeklies or putting some additional restrictions on the press. It's the revision of the whole democratic path we have chosen to take over the past five to six years," publisher Osama al-Sherif says.
While most journalists object to the law, some ordinary Jordanians support the government.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related sites:
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- The Star
- The Jordan Times Newspaper
- Al-Hadath (in arabic)
- Ad-Dustour : Jordanian Arabic Daily (in arabic)
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External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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