The Jordanian State Security Court sentenced political activist Ayman Sandouqa to five years in prison, in violation of internationally guaranteed fundamental rights, for a letter he wrote to King Abdullah II criticising Jordan’s ties with Israel and the management of national affairs.
The decision followed Sandouqa’s arrest on December 21, 2023, on charges of “inciting opposition to political rule” in accordance with Article 149 of the Jordanian Penal Code.
The letter was written by Sandouqa in a public post on his personal Facebook page, where he directly addressed King Abdullah II and criticised him for not acting to halt the “peace” deal with the Israeli occupation in response to the slaughters it is carrying out in the Gaza Strip.
Article 149 of the Jordanian Penal Code, which stipulates imprisonment for anyone who commits acts deemed a threat to the political system of government, is the basis for Sandouqa’s sentence. This article is frequently used as a pretext to restrict freedom of expression and imprison regime opponents.
Ayman Sandouqa’s sentence violates fundamental human rights principles, particularly those pertaining to freedom of expression and opinion. It also emphasises how urgently legislation must be changed to ensure that these rights are effectively protected without unwarranted limitations.
It is important to note that this decision is part of a larger trend of tightening restrictions on the right to free speech in Jordan. In recent years, similar trials of journalists and activists for voicing their opinions on public issues have occurred, necessitating pressure from human rights organisations and the international community on Jordanian authorities to uphold fundamental rights and end practices that restrict the right to free speech.
