Iraqi opposition TV station’s staff to be charged with terrorism

Reporters Without Borders deplores a Jordanian state security court prosecutor’s decision yesterday to bring terrorism charges against Amman-based Iraqi opposition TV station Al-Abasiya’s owner and 13 journalists, three days after their arrest during a police raid and the station’s closure. RWB calls for the immediate release of all those detained during the raid, and the withdrawal of all charges. A judicial source told Agence France-Presse that the prosecutor was accusing the 14 detainees of “using the Internet to carry out acts that exposed Jordanians to attack.” They are facing possible five-year jail sentences. Jordan’s broadcasting commission separately told AFP that Al-Abasiya had been broadcasting illegally from Jordan, without a licence. Jordan is ranked 141st out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.