tortured in the CRCs, but rather, most of them commended the good treatment in
these facilities.
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Journalists exercise their right to freedom of expression and rely mainly on the
Jordanian Press and Publications Law. However, there is a wide range of laws
governing and restricting press work, especially the Penal Code and the Cyber
Crimes Law. These restrictions have increased the self-censorship of journalists. The
year 2015 witnessed the enactment of the Cyber Crimes Law No. (27) for the year
2015, which included a legal provision criminalizing and penalize anyone who
sends, retransmits or disseminate data or information through the Internet, or website
or any information system that involves the defamation, insulting or slander, who
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not less than one week and not
exceeding three months and a fine not less than one hundred dinars and not more
than two thousand dinars, placing a new strain on the work of journalists.
In 2015, five journalists were arrested by the State Security Court Prosecutor on the basis of
the Prevention of Terrorism Act on charges of using media outlets to promote "terrorist"
thinking, and carrying out acts of terrorism, which would expose the Jordanians to the risk
of acts of aggression and retaliation, which is in breach of the provisions of Article 3 of the
Prevention of Terrorism Act and to disrupt relations with a foreign country in contravention
of Article 3 / B of the Prevention of Terrorism Law and to undermine the political regime or
inciting sentiments against it contrary to article 149/1 of Penal Code. The rest were arrested
either on the basis of the Penal Code, particularly on charges of insulting an official body
and an official employee, and at other times on charges of publishing what constitute
defamatory and or insulting on websites contrary to the provisions of Article 11 of the
Electronic Crimes Ac, while the pace of arrest of journalists in 2016 was reduced, in
particular, those based on the Prevention of Terrorism Law and the Penal Code No. 16 of
1960 and its amendments, which is considered to be a positive step.
The reduced frequency of the apprehension and the prosecution of journalists and media
workers in 2016 are considered a positive step, the Center, however, monitored cases in
which they were arrested on the basis of the Cyber Crimes Law (article 11 of the law). The
number of press and publications cases amounted to (67) in 2015, while the number of such
cases totalled (60) in 2016 .
As for activists on the social media sites, the years (2015-2017) have witnessed an increase
in the arrest of these people for having expressed their views, especially through their pages
on Facebook.
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Concerning the restrictions imposed on press and media activities and their
compatibility with article 19/3 of the ICCPR, reference should be made to the
adoption of the Audiovisual Media Act of 2015, which included many positive
aspects, namely; the abolition of the deprivation of liberty penalties and providing
for the establishment of a committee to consider media complaints.
However, the Law did not resolve the issue of the concentration of ownership and did not
reinforced the Media Commission independence, which is still affiliated to the Minister of
Information.
in addition, the Law of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation No. 17 for the year
2015 was amended by adding Article (5) bis. Consequently, the year 2015 saw positive
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