Newspaper editor freed on bail after being held for five days by state security court

Reporters Without Borders urges the state security court to withdraw its prosecution of Fayez Al-Ajrashi, the editor of the privately-owned weekly El-Ekhbariya, who was released from Al-Juweida prison (15 km south of Amman) yesterday after paying 3,000 dinars (3,300 euros) in bail but is still charged with “inflaming sectarian strife” and “sowing national discord.” “We are relieved to learn of Ajrashi's release but he is still threatened by a prosecution that has all the appearance of a reprisal,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Bringing a libel suit before a state security court, which is meant to try treason and terrorism cases, is an abuse of power and a denial of justice.” Ajrashi was arrested on 28 October and charged by the state security court prosecutor-general under article 150 of the criminal code, which carries a possible three-year prison sentence. He is also being sued for libel by the governor of Amman, Saad Wadi Al-Munasir, before a civil court, which yesterday held an initial hearing in the suit and read out the charges. Ajrashi told Reporters Without Borders that both complaints were linked to a series of articles in recent months in which he criticised the governor's record and exposed cases of corruption in the capital. In a similar case, former parliamentarian Ahmad Oweidi Abbadi was sentenced by the state security court in October 2007 to two years in prison on a charge of “attacking the state's prestige and reputation” for criticising government corruption on his website. -------------------------------------------------------------- 31.10.2008 Newspaper editor's prosecution by military court sets disturbing precedent Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of Fayez Al-Ajrashi, the editor of the privately-owned weekly El-Ekhbariya, on 28 October on the orders of the prosecutor-general of the state security court, a military tribunal. As a result of a complaint brought by the governor of Amman, Ajrashi has been charged under article 150 of the criminal code with “inflaming sectarian strife” and “sowing national discord.” “We are astounded that such serious judicial proceedings have been initiated against Ajrashi and that he has been placed in pre-trial detention,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We are particularly disturbed by the plaintiff's use of the criminal code for a libel matter covered by the publications law - which provides for prison sentences for press offences but not for journalists to be detained before trial. It is clear that article 150 of the criminal code was used to punish an impertinent journalist immediately.” The organisation added: “Press freedom is still being constructed in Jordan and it is vital that the authorities begin preparing legislative reforms that would decriminalize press offences and open up the broadcasting sector in order to ensure media diversity. Until this is done, King Abdallah's promises of democracy will be just empty words.” Amman governor Saad Wadi Al-Munasir's complaint was prompted by a sarcastic brief published a few weeks ago in El-Ekhbariya suggesting that the governor visited Israel for leisure purposes and indirectly likening him to a shipment of decayed meat. Facing a possible three-year jail sentence, Ajrashi is being held in Al-Juweida prison, 15 km south of Amman. Jordan was ranked 128th out of 173 countries in the world press freedom index with Reporters Without Borders released on 22 October.