Women Journalists Without Chains has voiced serious concerns regarding recent rulings by Jordan’s State Security Court, which sentenced four individuals to eight years in prison.

These convictions mark the latest in a series of legal actions targeting activists, journalists, and civilians for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, highlighting growing tensions between national security measures and the protection of civil liberties.

The individuals convicted are: Wael Arafa (46), a former prisoner released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit exchange; his brother, Ramzi Arafa (28); Laith Jamal (23); and Ammar Al-Mousa (26). According to the court, the charges against them stemmed from a plan to carry out hostile acts against Israel, coinciding with the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The indictment reportedly noted the discovery of operational weapons in one defendant’s residence, considered a significant threat to life and property, and suggested that these acts could expose Jordan to retaliatory attacks while damaging its foreign relations, particularly with Israel.

Women Journalists Without Chains criticized the rulings, emphasizing that basing convictions primarily on intent rather than concrete actions dangerously expands the scope of criminalization and threatens fundamental freedoms. The organization cautioned against the political instrumentalization of “damaging relations with foreign countries”, warning that such reasoning could justify punishment for any peaceful solidarity activity or expression of political opinion, directly contradicting Jordan’s constitutional and international obligations to freedom of expression and thought.

A Pattern of Targeting Activists and Civil Society

The latest rulings fit a broader pattern of crackdowns on civil society in Jordan. In April, Mohammad Al-Momani, Jordan’s government spokesperson and Minister of Government Communication, announced that the General Intelligence Directorate had foiled plots intended to disrupt national security and public order. Authorities arrested sixteen individuals allegedly involved, following intelligence operations traced back to 2021. All cases were subsequently referred to the State Security Court.

Over the past year, Women Journalists Without Chains has monitored numerous court decisions penalizing Jordanians for solidarity with Gaza or protests against Israeli atrocities. These cases reveal a persistent tension between national security considerations and the rights to political expression and humanitarian advocacy.

Illustrative Cases from Recent Years

Drone Manufacturing Case

In October of last year, the State Security Court ruled on a case involving the alleged manufacture of drones. Four defendants were acquitted, with the court finding that the acts did not demonstrate the specific intent necessary under Jordan’s Anti-Terrorism Law. The ruling characterized their activities as incomplete technical experiments and theoretical ideas, rather than deliberate actions threatening national security. The individuals released included Ali Ahmed Qasim, Abdulaziz Haroun, Abdullah Al-Haddar, and Ahmed Khalifa.

Journalist Duaa Jabr, mother of one detainee, described her son’s arrest in March as humiliating and harsh: he was handcuffed, blindfolded, and forcibly taken home for a complete search of the premises.

Rocket Manufacturing Case

In contrast, in the same period, the court imposed severe sentences in a separate case. Defendants Abdullah Hisham and Muath Ghanem were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, while Mohsen Ghanem received a 7.5-year sentence.

Recruitment Case

Defendants Marwan Al-Hawamdeh and Anas Abu Awad were convicted for alleged cooperation with external entities to recruit young Jordanians. The court sentenced them to three years and four months’ imprisonment.

Training Case

Another set of convictions involved Khadr Abdulaziz, Ayman Ajawi, Mohamed Saleh, and Farouq Al-Salman, who were sentenced to three years and four months for activities deemed to endanger public order and community safety.

Lawyer Abdul Qader Al-Khatib, representing several defendants, criticized the severity of these rulings. He argued that the acts in question were directed at the Israeli occupation rather than Jordan, intended as support for the Palestinian cause amid Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, and should not have been interpreted as a threat to national security.

Criminalizing Solidarity with Gaza

Beyond these high-profile cases, Women Journalists Without Chains has documented numerous convictions and fines imposed on activists for peaceful solidarity actions, including:

• Abeer Al-Jamal, sentenced to six months in prison and fined 3,000 JOD.
• Political activist Kamil Al-Zoubi.
• Activist Amir Rajha.
• Teacher and activist Ayman Al-Akkour, along with other political and media figures.

Since the beginning of the year, dozens of activists, influencers, politicians, and ordinary citizens have been detained for expressing solidarity with Palestinians. Many were charged with vague offenses such as “incitement”, for actions as simple as posting solidarity messages on social media or organizing peaceful strikes.

Women Journalists Without Chains highlighted the human toll of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, reporting that 70,942 Palestinians were killed between October 7, 2023, and December 23, 2025, according to statistics from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The organization stressed that the Jordanian authorities’ actions violate Article 15 of the Jordanian Constitution, as well as Articles 9, 14, and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, undermining citizens’ trust in the state and weakening Jordan’s stance on ongoing Israeli atrocities.

In light of these developments, Women Journalists Without Chains calls on Jordanian authorities to:

• Release all detainees immediately and unconditionally if held solely for political opinions or peaceful solidarity with Palestinians, unless formally charged with specific criminal acts supported by tangible evidence, under full guarantees of a fair trial.
• Review all State Security Court rulings concerning Gaza solidarity cases, particularly those based on intent or political judgment, and ensure appeal rights are fully respected.
• Cease the use of State Security Court to prosecute civilians for free expression, political activism, or humanitarian advocacy.
• Suspend broad provisions of the Cybercrime and Anti-Terrorism laws, which criminalize peaceful expression, and harmonize national legislation with Jordan’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.
• Guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and protest, ending the systemic prevention of demonstrations against Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
• Affirm the legitimacy of solidarity with Palestinians as a moral, humanitarian, and ethical position, and refrain from labeling such acts as terrorism.

Women Journalists Without Chains emphasized that protecting civil liberties, freedom of expression, and humanitarian solidarity is essential to internal stability, public trust, and Jordan’s credibility in addressing ongoing Israeli crimes in Palestine.