Jordan using new antiterror law to stifle dissent, democracy activists say
| Amman, Jordan
Three years ago, Rani Zawahreh was at the forefront of Jordan鈥檚 Arab Spring-inspired pro-democracy movement, leading weekly protests demanding an end to corruption and far-reaching political reforms curbing King Abdullah鈥檚 powers.
Now standing shackled in a prison-issued blue tunic before a military tribunal on terror charges under聽a controversial new antiterror law, the 27-year-old engineer says that very activism led to his singling out and 鈥減ersecution鈥� as a political prisoner.
He is being tried for 鈥渦ndermining the rule of law鈥� with statements he made at an antigovernment protest in early September.
鈥淚 have never threatened my country or the government,鈥� Mr. Zawahreh said at a trial at Jordan鈥檚 state security court Monday, referring to his remarks during the protest. 鈥淚 only threatened the corrupt, who are now trying to use their power to get back at all of us activists.鈥�
According to court and police records,听Zawahreh is聽one of 50 Jordanian political activists who have been detained by authorities as Jordan, watching nervously at Islamic State gains in neighboring Iraq and Syria, widens its crackdown on suspected IS supporters and members.
Jordanian officials say that overall, the crackdown has netted more than 90 suspects and led to the swift trial and imprisonment of 30 since mid-September.
However, as Jordanian authorities widen their net, an increasing number of opposition leaders with no overt links to IS or terror are being caught in the crackdown, including a group of 10 pro-Palestinian activists, a leading labor leader, and the deputy leader of Jordan鈥檚 Muslim Brotherhood 鈥� the country鈥檚 largest opposition movement.
At the center of the crackdown is the country鈥檚 strict antiterror law passed in June that 聽criminalizes forms of expression as small as a Tweet or Facebook post deemed harmful to Jordan鈥檚 interests.
鈥淲e are sending a clear message both within Jordan and abroad that the threat of the Islamic State and extremism affects each and every one of us and statements in support will not be tolerated,鈥� says Mohammed Momani, Jordanian government spokesman and minister of media affairs.
鈥淭his requires vigilance and action on all fronts, and the law is a part of this.鈥�
Yet by defining terror as any act that 鈥渦ndermines Jordan鈥� or 鈥渉arms Jordan鈥檚 interests with a foreign state鈥� and extending its reach to social media and the Internet, activists say, the law has given authorities and the country鈥檚 security court a far-reaching new tool to hit back at the opposition, press, and even dissenting citizens.
Stretching definition of 'terror'
As the number of arrests grows, activists and legal advocates say authorities are increasingly stretching the definition of 鈥渢errorist acts.鈥�
Zaki Bani Rsheid, the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, was arrested Nov. 20聽for a Facebook rant聽critical of the United Arab Emirate鈥檚 banning of the group as a terrorist outfit. Mr.聽Bani Rsheid, one of Jordan鈥檚 most prominent political figures, accused Abu Dhabi of carrying out 鈥淶ionist鈥� and 鈥渢errorist鈥� policies across the region.聽The group's global leadership has repeatedly rejected violence in Arab countries, while its Jordan branch has spoken out against the Islamic State as 鈥渄eviants of Islam.鈥�
Defending the terror trial, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Bani Rsheid鈥檚 statements endangered the 225,000 Jordanians living in the UAE and the $3 million supplied by the Emirati government to Jordan daily. 聽
When merchants rioted after their popular street market in downtown Amman was closed down by officials in late October, authorities referred 12 to the court for 鈥渋ntent to carry out terrorist acts.鈥�
鈥淩ight now, in the courts, any act or statement the government does not like is considered terrorism,鈥� says Taher Nassar, Zawahreh鈥檚 defense attorney, who also represents 15 other detained activists.聽鈥淭he word has lost its meaning.鈥�
'Times have changed'
Some observers say, however, that what is driving Jordan鈥檚 renewed crackdown is not a change of laws, but a change of heart.
For over two years following the Arab Spring uprisings, Jordan allowed near-daily protests demanding everything from political reforms to teachers鈥� pay raises and the return of tribal lands. With economic woes at home and increasing turmoil in neighboring countries, Jordan has now become a much less tolerant place, these observers say.
鈥淢any of these protests and activists were actually breaking the law in 2011 and 2012 when they were criticizing the royal family and closing down streets, but the state looked the other way,鈥� says Samih Maaytah, former minister of media affairs and chairman of Jordan鈥檚 state-run newspaper, Al Rai.聽鈥淏ut now, times have changed.鈥�
Moreover, Jordan聽has received an influx of 1.3 million Syrian refugees, witnessed Islamic State reach its eastern border with Iraq, and seen more than 1,200 of its citizens go off to fight alongside the jihadist movement.
Free speech 'in a state of war'聽
An even bigger factor is Jordan鈥檚 leading role in the US-led coalition against IS, analysts say, noting that the country鈥檚 participation in bombing runs in neighboring Syria and Iraq have prompted mixed reactions from the public.
鈥淛ordan considers itself in a state of war, and in a state of war, free speech and expression suffer,鈥� says Oraib Rintawi, a political analyst and head of the Amman-based Al Quds Center for Political Studies.
Despite the rising number of trials, Jordan鈥檚 opposition activists vow not to go quietly.聽鈥淭hey can arrest us, they can threaten us, and they can silence us,鈥� Zawahreh said.聽鈥淏ut our message will live on.鈥�
