Jordan Denies Sentence Appeal for Journalist Al-Zoubi

On December 1st, 2024, a Jordanian court in Amman rejected a fifth request to release journalist Ahmad Al-Zoubi from prison, refusing to replace his sentence with community service.

Al-Zoubi, a 49-year-old founder and editor of the Swalif news website, has been imprisoned since July 2nd, 2024, for Facebook comments criticizing the government's response to a December 2022 truck drivers' strike.  This ongoing detention, stemming from an initial two-month sentence handed down in August 2023, has been extended to one year.  The court accused Al-Zoubi of "inciting racial and sectarian strife," a charge that has drawn condemnation from press freedom advocates.

In August 2023, the Amman Magistrate Court sentenced satirical journalist Al-Zoubi to two months in prison for his social media comments criticizing the Jordanian authorities' response to a truck drivers' strike in December 2022. The court accused him of “inciting racial and sectarian strife and fomenting discord among the nation’s various groups.” Following this ruling, he filed an appeal, while the public prosecutor sought a more severe sentence. Ultimately, the court decided to extend his imprisonment to one year.

Before his incarceration, the 49-year-old journalist contributed to several Jordanian media outlets, including the pro-government Al-Rai newspaper, and also collaborated with foreign media organizations. He was the founder and editor of the Swalif news website, which has now become a platform for his satirical commentary. Currently, Al-Zoubi is detained in Marka Prison in the Jordanian capital, Amman, where his case has drawn significant attention regarding free speech and press freedom in the country.

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) condemns the unjust imprisonment of Jordanian journalist, Al-Zoubi, and urges the immediate reversal of his sentence.  His incarceration, exacerbated by pre-existing health conditions including chronic diabetes and psychological stress, highlights a broader pattern of repression against freedom of expression in Jordan.  WJWC is particularly concerned about the application of the amended 2023 Cybercrime Law, which has been criticized for undermining fundamental rights.

The conviction of Al-Zoubi under Article 17 of the Cybercrime Law—described by Reporters Without Borders as a tool for suppressing free speech—and Article 150 of the Penal Code for "inciting strife," is deeply troubling.  Amnesty International's review of the trial proceedings confirms this detention is part of a wider campaign of repression.  Furthermore, Amnesty International notes that the vague language of the Cybercrime Law fails to meet international standards for legal clarity, leaving individuals vulnerable to arbitrary prosecution.  WJWC calls upon the Jordanian authorities to repeal this repressive legislation and uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression.