Overtredingen onder de wet omvatten ‘het verspreiden van nepnieuws’, ‘het aanwakkeren van onrust’ en ‘minachting voor religies’.
Jordanian authorities are using the country’s new cybercrimes law to suppress expression, particularly pro-Palestine sentiment, according to a report by Amnesty International. The report reveals that at least 15 individuals have been prosecuted under this law for criticizing authorities online.
The new cybercrimes law, which was enacted on August 13, 2023, introduced amendments to the existing 2015 law, including a provision allowing the prosecution of individuals without a personal complaint if the offense is related to governmental figures or entities. The law’s scope is also considered broad, enabling prosecutions for accusations like “spreading fake news,” “provoking strife,” “threatening societal peace,” and “contempt for religions.”
Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Aya Majzoub, criticized the law, stating that “under the pretext of protecting the digital space, Jordanian authorities have escalated their blatant assault on the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in the country, using overly broad provisions.”
Amnesty International reports that Jordanian authorities have particularly targeted recent pro-Palestine activism and criticism of government policies toward Israel under the new cybercrimes law. This crackdown has further restricted the already limited space for dissent in Jordan, fostering an environment of self-censorship.
Between August 2023 and August 2024, hundreds of people in Jordan have been charged under this law. Among them is lawyer and activist Moutaz Awwad, who was convicted of “provoking sedition or strife” under Article 17 of the law. A criminal court fined Awwad 5,000 Jordanian Dinars (around $7,000) for posts on X (formerly Twitter) where he criticized Arab governments’ policies toward Israel and expressed pro-Palestine sentiments.
In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, Jordanian authorities have intensified their crackdown on pro-Palestine protests and social media posts. Journalists and activists involved in protests outside the Israeli embassy during Ramadan or those who accused the government of intercepting Iranian missiles headed for Israel in April have faced convictions and, in some cases, have been arrested without prior notice.
Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Aya Majzoub, has called for the repeal or substantial amendment of the cybercrimes law to align it with international human rights standards. Majzoub emphasized that criticism of the government’s policies and actions is a legitimate form of expression and should not be criminalized.
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