In a development that contradicts the principle of public freedoms in Jordan, the Public Prosecutor has issued an arrest warrant against MP Wissam Arabeihat, a member of the Islamic Action Front bloc, along with a number of activists, including Mohammad Al-Hrassies and his son Musab, over their humanitarian and relief activities in support of the people of Gaza during the ongoing war.
Arabeihat is well known for his prominent role in charitable and social work. Together with other activists, he has been a key figure in organising grassroots initiatives in the Al-Tafayleh neighbourhood of the capital, Amman, which since the beginning of the assault on Gaza has become a vital hub for collecting donations and launching popular support activities for the besieged Strip.
This move comes at a time when working-class neighbourhoods, particularly Al-Tafayleh, have witnessed security clampdowns and prosecutions targeting activists and volunteers who took part in solidarity campaigns. This raises questions about the extent to which the authorities respect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and humanitarian action, particularly given that such activities fall within constitutional rights guaranteeing freedom of organisation and community participation.
Targeting activists for their role in supporting a people subjected to genocide in Gaza directly undermines the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, which criminalises the obstruction of humanitarian and relief initiatives. These arrest warrants may also be read as part of restricting the right to solidarity; a right recognised under international conventions as an aspect of freedom of expression and association.
These developments go beyond an individual case, reflecting an escalating trend of curbing grassroots initiatives of both humanitarian and political character. Such a move may heighten tensions between Jordanian society and the authorities, especially amid growing public sympathy with Gaza and rising anger at the massacres being inflicted on civilians there.
