Jordanian student Walid Khaled Al-Juhani, who was detained three weeks ago over a pro-Gaza solidarity rally, declared an open hunger strike in protest against his arbitrary detention.
Al-Juhani went on strike in response to the illegal decision made by the administrative governor to keep him behind bars against a court’s order to release him.
Walid’s father, Khaled Al-Juhani, said that the jail authorities had prevented his family from sending him clothes and a copy of the Holy Qur’an. They had also prevented him from speaking to his family on the phone multiple times, most recently during the days of Eid.
He went on to say that his son, who is being held for political reasons, is being held in the same cell as criminal defendants.
The Jordanian authorities continue to arrest dozens of activists for showing solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip, who have been subjected to an Israeli war of genocide for more than 6 months.
The security services have broken up a number of nonviolent sit-ins over the past few months, arrested a number of their participants, and made them sign pledges vowing not to take part in similar events again.
As international law guarantees people the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, dispersing peaceful sit-ins and apprehending their participants is against international standards. Repression or violence directed towards demonstrators is regarded as a violation of human rights.
The absence of a clear legal basis for the arrest of activists and participants in nonviolent sit-ins is a blatant violation of their rights, since the arrest must be made in accordance with international law’s procedural and legal safeguards.
Thus, the Jordanian authorities ought to respect international law and ensure the rights of protestors and activists, such as the freedom of speech, the right to peaceful assembly, and the freedom from violence, torture, or cruel or inhuman treatment while in detention. They should also hold those accountable for any violations of human rights and ensure that victims receive justice.
