Journalist Attacked in Zarqa, Former TV Director Detained Amid Rising Pressure on Freedoms in Jordan

Zarqa, Jordan — On Friday, economic journalist Faisal Al-Tamimi was assaulted outside his home in Zarqa while returning with his family.

Surveillance footage showed two masked men striking him with iron rods before smashing his car and fleeing the scene. Circumstances surrounding the attack suggest it was linked to Al-Tamimi’s reporting on economic issues.

In a related development, Jordanian authorities detained Amjad Al-Snaid, former director of Jordan Television, along with his son, as they headed to support unemployed youth staging a peaceful sit-in in Dhiban. Al-Snaid, a prominent advocate for workers’ rights, has previously been arrested more than ten times due to his activism.

Pattern of Targeting Journalists

The assault on Al-Tamimi is not unprecedented. On July 8, 2025, journalist Fares Al-Habashneh was attacked by four masked men outside his home in Amman, just one day after being released on bail in a case filed against him under Jordan’s Cybercrime Law. These incidents coincide with growing restrictions on freedom of expression and the use of laws such as the Cybercrime Law and the Anti-Terrorism Law to silence critics of economic policies and corruption, against the backdrop of rising unemployment and widening social inequality.

Rights Suppressed

In recent months, Jordanian security forces have disrupted peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians and protests against atrocities in Gaza. Participants were arrested and charged under the amended Cybercrime Law of August 2023, which contains broad provisions used to criminalize peaceful expression. Rights groups argue this contravenes Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution, as well as international conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Dozens of activists and journalists remain in detention without fair trial, while others face ongoing prosecutions for their opinions.

Statement from Women Journalists Without Chains

Responding to these developments, Women Journalists Without Chains said the attack on Al-Tamimi and the detention of Al-Snaid and his son reflect a systematic policy aimed at deterring popular movements and instilling fear among activists, rather than engaging in serious dialogue to address the root causes of economic and social crises.

The organization called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the assault on Al-Tamimi, accountability for all perpetrators, and disclosure of those who incite or benefit from targeting journalists. It also urged the release of Al-Snaid, his son, and all detainees held for peaceful activism, and demanded an end to security and judicial harassment of labor rights defenders and unemployed youth.

Women Journalists Without Chains further pressed for a review of restrictive legislation, particularly the Cybercrime Law, to ensure alignment with the Jordanian Constitution and international obligations. The group emphasized the need to guarantee a safe environment for journalists and activists to carry out their role in oversight, exposing corruption, and defending social justice without fear of reprisal.