I am angry, but I'm not surprised!
Yesterday I read the news via Naseem, that editors Jihad Al Momani and Hashem Al Khalidi have been sentenced to two months in prison for republishing some of the cartoons (THE cartoons) in weeklies Shihan and Al Mihwar last February.
Did the judges think of the context within which they published them?? Did they consider the message that Al Momani was trying to send out with what he wrote along with the republished cartoons??
The law has enough vagueness and fluid phrases in it to allow for elastic interpretations and indictments like this to come out.
Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution states that:
And what does the law say?
Article 5 of the Press and Publications Law states that:
Interpret that!
One of the arguments for Press Freedom in recent months was that journalists should not be put behind bars, and the proposed amendment aimed at raising the fines paid instead of imprisonment. HERE LIES THE PROBLEM. Do you think that an editor would say: "Oh as long as I know I'm not going to jail, then I can be brave and speak up because it's only a few tens of thousands of JDs that I might have to pay if I'm indicted? I have my freedom, right? And I have the money to pay off any fine and be courageous in expressing opinion and tackling issues!!"
You know what angers me the most though?? The fact that Jordanian newspapers have been too quiet and 'cautious' in discussing this! Try googling Jihad Momani and see what you will get. The Center for Protection and Freedom of Journalists has been supporting Momani and Khalidi continuously since the start of the case, but otherwise the local press has been mostly looking the other way. Why walk into landmines, right?
Oh and don't get me started on the Jordan Press Association (I will share reflections from a visit to the Professional Unions Complex in a future post)
If journalists won't fight for freedom of press, then who will??
Yesterday I read the news via Naseem, that editors Jihad Al Momani and Hashem Al Khalidi have been sentenced to two months in prison for republishing some of the cartoons (THE cartoons) in weeklies Shihan and Al Mihwar last February.
Did the judges think of the context within which they published them?? Did they consider the message that Al Momani was trying to send out with what he wrote along with the republished cartoons??
The law has enough vagueness and fluid phrases in it to allow for elastic interpretations and indictments like this to come out.
Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution states that:
(i) The State shall guarantee freedom of opinion. Every Jordanian shall be free to express his opinion by speech, in writing, or by means of photographic representation and other forms of expression, provided that such does not violate the law.
(ii) Freedom of the press and publications shall be ensured within the limits of the law.
(iii) Newspapers shall not be suspended from publication nor shall their permits be revoked except in accordance with the provisions of the law
And what does the law say?
Article 5 of the Press and Publications Law states that:
Publications shall have to show respect to the truth, and refrain from publishing any material that runs counter to the principles of freedom, national obligation, human rights and Arab-Islamic values.
Interpret that!
One of the arguments for Press Freedom in recent months was that journalists should not be put behind bars, and the proposed amendment aimed at raising the fines paid instead of imprisonment. HERE LIES THE PROBLEM. Do you think that an editor would say: "Oh as long as I know I'm not going to jail, then I can be brave and speak up because it's only a few tens of thousands of JDs that I might have to pay if I'm indicted? I have my freedom, right? And I have the money to pay off any fine and be courageous in expressing opinion and tackling issues!!"
You know what angers me the most though?? The fact that Jordanian newspapers have been too quiet and 'cautious' in discussing this! Try googling Jihad Momani and see what you will get. The Center for Protection and Freedom of Journalists has been supporting Momani and Khalidi continuously since the start of the case, but otherwise the local press has been mostly looking the other way. Why walk into landmines, right?
Oh and don't get me started on the Jordan Press Association (I will share reflections from a visit to the Professional Unions Complex in a future post)
If journalists won't fight for freedom of press, then who will??
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