The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) calls on the Jordanian Parliament to reject the draft Cybercrimes Law, which was discussed in a first meeting held on 16 July 2023 in its special session. The Parliament decided to refer the draft law submitted by the government to its legal committee.

The law, which consists of 41 articles, includes several articles that use broad and vague terms that violate the right to freedom of expression online and threaten digital rights, including the right to privacy, as well as provide for prison sentences of up to three or five years.

The introduction of this law comes at a time when Jordan is witnessing continuous human rights violations. On 31 December 2020, the Amman Magistrate’s Criminal Court issued a verdict that includes the dissolution of the Jordan Teachers’ Syndicate (JTS), which the authorities are still preventing from continuing its union work.

In May 2023, close cooperation between the Jordanian Intelligence Service and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) State Security Apparatus led to the extradition of businessman Dr. Khalaf Abdulrahman Al-Romaithi, a member of the UAE94 group facing imprisonment for his pro-democracy activities, to the UAE authorities in violation of Jordanian local laws and international laws.

Also, in June 2023, prominent Jordanian human rights lawyer Hala Ahed faced a fierce campaign of social media attacks due to her peaceful and legitimate human rights work, during which the Jordanian authorities played the role of a bystander.

GCHR, along with its partners Human Rights Watch (HRW), Access Now, ARTICLE 19, SMEX, and Jordan Open Source Association (JOSA) among other organisations issued a joint appeal urging the Jordanian government to withdraw the bill. The appeal highlights the many articles of the law that violate citizens’ digital rights and severely undermine freedom of expression online. The appeal, in conclusion, urged the Jordanian parliament to reject the bill and preserve the digital rights of all citizens in Jordan.

Once again, GCHR calls on the Jordanian authorities to fulfill their constitutional duties, represented by protecting the civil and human rights of citizens, to reject and withdraw the draft Cybercrimes Law immediately, and to work to protect freedom of expression online and abroad.