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CHANGES TO PENAL CODE A THREAT TO PRESS FREEDOM

In the wake of the 11 September attacks on the United States, the government of Jordan last week approved amendments to the Penal Code to combat terrorism, arguing that they were aimed at preventing some of the country's 14 weekly publications from publishing "lies and sensational stories" against the government, reports the "Jordan Times." However, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and Reporters sans frontières (RSF), these sweeping amendments indiscriminately target all publications and "seriously threaten press freedom."

Introduced on 8 October without prior public or parliamentary debate, the amendments to the Penal Code enlarge the powers of the government to temporarily or permanently ban publications. Article 5, which replaces Article 150, states that anyone who prints "false or libelous information that can undermine national unity or the country's reputation" or "aggravate basic social norms" can be imprisoned, according to CPJ. Other definitions in the Article cover individuals who "sow the seeds of hatred" or "harm the honour or reputation of individuals." Individuals charged with such crimes will be subject to jail terms of up to six months and fines of up to 5,000 Jordanian dinars (approximately US$7,100).

In addition, Article 6, replacing Article 195 of the Penal Code, criminalizes the publication of statements that insult or attribute false statements to King Abdullah Ibn Hussein and other members of the royal family, whether they are published on the Internet, in print or in cartoons, notes CPJ. In a letter to the king, WAN stated "While understanding the difficulties facing your country during the current crisis, we respectfully remind you that the amendments to the Penal Code are excessively restrictive and constitute a clear breach of the right to freedom of expression."

Government officials say the next Parliament, expected to re-convene in September 2002 after new elections are held, will examine the amendments to the Penal Code and decide whether to accept or reject the changes, according to the "Jordan Times." A senior official said that in the past four months, over 30 court cases had been filed against several weekly newspapers for violations of the Press and Publications Law. For more information, see www.cpj.org, www.rsf.fr and www.wan-press.org.