any act under the characterization of a terrorist act, without stipulating any objective
and legal controls. This is an apparent breach of the right to freedom of expression
(and the right to peaceful assembly and public participation), or even the freedom of
press and the media to receive, disseminate and transmit and transfer information.
In terms of practice, a number of users of social networking websites were administratively
detained due to of their Tweets on their own personal pages. The SSC charged them with
the commission of the crime of “disturbing relations with a foreign country”, which is in
violation of the provisions of the Jordanian Penal Code, in addition to leveling other
charges to them like promoting the ideology of terrorist organization and the crime of
lengthening the tongue and many others. Once again, in the lack of a clear and explicit law
that stipulates the crimes that maybe construed as an infringement of the national security,
or the dignity and reputation of others in an attempt to criticize the government's actions by
local and international bodies. This resulted the decline of Jordan’s position in the
international indexes in the field of journalism and media freedom .
On another level, more than one person was detained as a result of expressing their
opinions, particularly during the demonstrations, both when chanting or due to carrying
some postures. They were accused with different charges, including: subverting the regime
of the government, or disturbing relations with a foreign country, or lengthening the
tongue. The number of cases filed at the regular courts in Jordan of “lengthening the
tongue” 85 cases, in pursuant with Article 195 of the Penal Code.
On the level of freedom of expression by means of writing and publication, the Center
monitored the referral of one author to the judiciary, due the work entitled “Soldiers Talk”
(Second Edition) authored by Ayman Otoum; for violating the Press and Publication Law
of 1998 And Its Amendments of 2007, as announced by Jordan's Audiovisual Media
Commission.
Paragraph (37)
Jordan has made significant strides in recent years, towards the protection and promotion of
human rights, including:
a. The year of 2011 witnessed the adoption of a set of constitutional amendments,
which contributed significantly to developing the protection and promotion of
human rights; the most important of these amendments are as follows:
1. Explicitly provided for the prohibition of torture and the protection of the human
dignity.
2. Underlying the right to liberty and security of person.
3. The important amendment on the first paragraph of Article 128 which adds general
provision that ensures that the laws are free from any provision that would impair
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