A new cyber crime law restricting news websites is widely seen as an attempt by the Jordanian government to silence its critics
Kamel Labidi
(Kamel Labidi is a Tunisian journalist and Middle East consultant for the committee to protect journalists)
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 August 2010
".....In May, the state security court banned news media from covering corruption allegations involving the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company and several national figures.
Kamel Labidi
(Kamel Labidi is a Tunisian journalist and Middle East consultant for the committee to protect journalists)
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 August 2010
".....In May, the state security court banned news media from covering corruption allegations involving the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company and several national figures.
This ruling coincided with what many described as a "government-backed media campaign" against news websites, whose criticism of government policies and increasing influence among Jordanians seemed to have become intolerable among thin-skinned, high-ranking officials.
"One of the top priorities of this government is to silence the most vibrant and influential media outlets to please entrenched pressure groups. They want to muzzle journalists and turn the media into a government megaphone," said Okoor.
"One of the top priorities of this government is to silence the most vibrant and influential media outlets to please entrenched pressure groups. They want to muzzle journalists and turn the media into a government megaphone," said Okoor.
Even figures traditionally close to the government, such as Saleh Qallab, the former minister of information and columnist for the government's daily, al-Rai, seem disturbed by the continuing crackdown on bloggers. "Cracking down on them is not a solution, because we do not want the government to silence the voices of its critics," said Qallab, whose declared wish 10 years ago to become Jordan's last minister of information did not come true."
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