Former Jordanian MP arrested after accusing government of corruption

[UndertheOcean]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/03/africa/ME-GEN-Jordan-Arrest.php

MMAN, Jordan: A former lawmaker was arrested Thursday after he accused Jordan's government of corruption in an e-mail to an American senator, officials said.

Ahmad Oweidi al-Abbadi, chairman of a small right-wing group called the Jordanian National Movement, was detained for 15 days pending interrogation, a judicial official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media.

The official said al-Abbadi was charged with three counts — harming the state's dignity, slandering officials and violating laws governing e-mail practices.

~SNIP~

A Jordanian National Movement member said al-Abbadi was apparently detained for an e-mail he sent to U.S. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid earlier in the week claiming an "exponential rise in corruption levels" among Jordanian officials.

The official, who also insisted on anonymity fearing government reprisal, said al-Abbadi also accused the government of clamping down on public freedoms, including the media, and that the level of health care, education and other services have declined because of alleged government corruption.

~SNIP~

The move came just days after Jordanian authorities confiscated the videotape of an Al-Jazeera interview with Prince Hassan, Jordan's former crown prince and an uncle to King Abdullah.

The Qatar-based satellite broadcaster said the Jordanian prince sharply criticized U.S. policies in the Middle East. The tape was seized as the Al-Jazeera reporter was about to leave Jordan. The government confirmed the confiscation but said it had nothing to do with the content of the interview.

Parliament endorsed in March a controversial press and publication law that slaps heavy fines and prison terms on journalists for violations such as slander and religious defamation.

[UndertheOcean]

1. this came through email

Jordan 's Democracy: Who are they Fooling?

Less than two months since the King of Jordan declared before a joint session of the U.S. Congress that he was pushing for political and economic reforms in his country, one of Jordan's leading critics of his regime, Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi, is being held as a political prisoner at Al-Jwaidah Prison on trumped up charges.

Dr. Al-Abbadi, a well-respected writer, historian and former member of the Jordanian parliament is paying the price for exposing corruption within the political system and speaking out in favor of government reforms. Dr. Al-Abbadi now leads the Jordan National Movement (JNM), which according to its mission statement, "seeks to promote democracy, human rights, and political, economic and social reforms, and national strategic issues in Jordan, and constructive and peaceful dialogue to settle current and future conflicts in the Middle East region."

Since his arrest a concerted effort has been underway to undermine Dr. Al-Abbadi's credibility. The regime and its self-proclaimed journalists, writers and bloggers have been portraying him and his organization (JNM) as right-wing zealots trying to expel Palestinians from Jordan. The intent is to dilute the message and discredit the messenger.

While this accusation is not only untrue, it is intended to sway public opinion and thus make a fair trial impossible. The clever maneuver to incite public opinion is a clever ruse to deflect Dr. Al-Abbadi's message of freedom and thus keep the status quo that has so long enabled the monarchy to keep tight control of its citizens.

Dr. Al-Abbadi has oftentimes acknowledged the valuable contributions Palestinians have made to Jordan 's economic and political life. On many occasions he declared through his writings that he bears no ill will towards the Palestinian people and asserts that his fight is not with them, but with the corrupt regime in Amman. I know that Dr. Al-Abbadi and his supporters care deeply for all Jordanian citizens. His wish is to live in a democracy where all people are treated equally and with respect and dignity.

It seems to me that Dr. Al-Abbadi's findings are a result of his thoughtful analysis of the current situation in Jordan. To him, and some of us might disagree, the King and his government have set out to deprive the Jordanian people of the liberty, freedom and economic prosperity they deserve. Dr. Al-Abbadi has articulated the public dissatisfaction over the economic, political and social conditions prevailing in Jordan.

These are his views, and he is entitled to them. We may disagree with his findings, but is it fair to incarcerate a human being for holding and stating a belief? What happened to the promises of greater respect for human rights that the regime made in Amman to foreign aid donors?

I applaud Dr. Abbadi and his colleagues for trying to make a difference in Jordan and hence the region at large by fighting for an agenda that explicitly calls for transparency, accountability and equal opportunity.

The regime may get away in the short run with jailing Dr. Al-Abbadi, but surely it cannot and will not be able to silence the vast majority of Jordanians who share Dr. Al-Abbadi's sentiments. In their view, the King and his successive appointed governments have nurtured a political and economic system that has taken Jordan toward a class-based system, where the gap between Jordan's "haves" and "have nots" has grown wider. This is a matter of public record and cannot be refuted.

Dr. Al-Abbadi should be applauded for revealing human rights violations in Jordan and for exposing the vast existence of public corruption.

The very manner in which Dr. Abbadi is being held (2 x 2 meter prison cell) reflects upon the level of depravity the King and his co-horts have reached. While they live in luxury, they are condemning an individual to unimaginable deprivations.

Many in Jordan may disagree with Dr. Abbadi's message and are afraid that he will cause harm. I can understand those feelings and that's why it is so important to engage him in constructive dialogue instead of incarcerating him. We need to hear his arguments and how he arrived at them so we can engage in this positive dialogue to understand one another better.

Differences of opinions are not illegal in genuine democracies. Who among us hasn't disagreed with others? Has the time come when all of us need to be more careful what we say to our friends? Do we have to start worrying about a knock on our doors in the middle of the night? In the meantime, perhaps the time has come for Jordan's democracy advocates in the United States and other democracies to press for changes in Jordan to create a democracy in substance and not one by name only.

So let us hope for a fair trial for Dr. Abbadi's.

Awen Al-Meshagbah
Boston, MA

[NNN0LHI]

2. Jordans King Abdullah is one of Bush's most trusted torturers n/t