The detention of eight individuals by the Jordanian authorities, including Ziad Al-Mitani, a member of the Shura Council of the Ummah Party,

reflects the continuing erosion of public freedoms and the systematic restriction of political rights and the freedoms of opinion and expression in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Holding individuals without disclosing the charges against them or ensuring fundamental due process guarantees raises serious concerns about respect for the rule of law and Jordan's compliance with its international human rights obligations.

Background

In late July, the Jordanian authorities arrested Ziad Mohammed Al-Mitani, Ziad Mahmoud, Akram Ibrahim Al-Omari, Thaer Abdulrahman, Jabr Abdulkarim Amouri, Hamza Abdulrahman Mansi, Munir Misbah Al-Khalidi, and Samir Hussein Al-Zuhairi and transferred them to Marka Prison. The authorities have neither disclosed the charges against the detainees nor referred their cases to a competent judicial authority.

The recent arrests occurred amid an intensifying crackdown on public freedoms in Jordan. Political figures, journalists, activists, and other individuals have increasingly faced arrest and prosecution in connection with the peaceful exercise of their fundamental rights.

Additional cases illustrate the broader scope of the crackdown. Activist Alaa Al-Malkawi was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for criticizing the Social Security Law and the Cybercrime Law, while activist Laith Osama Alawi Al-Barizat received a one-year prison sentence after publishing posts criticizing an event held in Petra.

The campaign has also expanded to include former security officials. Retired General Intelligence Directorate Colonel Sahm Al-Hawamdeh was arrested after exposing corruption allegations involving the Minister of Water. Activist Firas Al-Tawahia Al-Abadi was detained to serve a one-year prison sentence imposed for his opposition views despite serious concerns about his health. Reports indicate that he suffers from severe medical conditions and has experienced multiple strokes, raising serious concerns about his safety while in detention.

Another high-profile case involves 71-year-old sports journalist Rima Al-Abadi, who is undergoing cancer treatment and faces a prison sentence of two years and one month after being forcibly returned from Egypt to Jordan while traveling to Russia to continue her medical treatment. She faces approximately 50 criminal cases linked to social media posts criticizing the Jordan Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth and was expelled from the Jordan Press Association two months ago.

The broader pattern is reflected in the detention of hundreds of activists, journalists, social media influencers, and ordinary citizens in recent years for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, including expressing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip or calling for protests against crimes committed by the Israeli occupation authorities since October 2023.

Institutional Position

The documented pattern reflects an increasingly restrictive environment for the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Jordan. The growing reliance on criminal prosecutions, restrictive legislation, and exceptional judicial mechanisms to suppress political dissent, criticism of public policy, anti-corruption advocacy, and expressions of solidarity with Palestinians has significantly narrowed civic space and weakened public confidence in the rule of law. The cumulative effect of arbitrary detention, politically motivated prosecutions, and the denial of due process guarantees undermines democratic governance and erodes the effective protection of civil and political rights.

Applicable Legal Framework

The documented practices are incompatible with Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of opinion and expression. They also violate Articles 9 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protect the rights to liberty, security of person, and freedom of expression while prohibiting arbitrary detention. Furthermore, the denial of due process guarantees and the referral of certain cases to the State Security Court are inconsistent with Article 14 of the ICCPR, which guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing before a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal.

Demands Aligned with International Human Rights Principles

Women Journalists Without Chains

Geneva, Switzerland — August 3, 2026