Cartoonist arrested in Jordan for mocking UAE-Israel deal

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 August 2020

Emad Hajjaj was arrested for a cartoon mocking the UAE-Israel deal, leading to international outcry over media freedoms in Jordan. His trial, under antiterrorism laws, marks a troubling escalation in governmental repression against media and unions.

Summary

BRUSSELS—Cartoonist Emad Hajjaj was arrested on August 26 for "disturbing relations with a sister country” in a cartoon.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned this arrest and recent attacks on media freedom in Jordan and demanded Emad Hajjaj’s immediate release.

Published in Al Araby Al Jadeed, the cartoon mocked the recent deal the United Arab Emirates struck with Israel. Hajjaj was referred to the State Security Court. His trial will be held under the antiterrorism law.

Hajjaj’s arrest comes amid growing crackdown on freedom of information and union rights in Jordan. On July 25, the Jordanian Teachers Association was closed on shaky grounds, and police arrested several of its leaders. At the same time, authorities imposed a media blackout on the media coverage of protests over the union's closure—which had spread to several cities—as well as the coverage of subsequent trials.

On August 18, the IFJ joined the Education International (EI)'s call to release leaders of the Jordanian Teacher Association and to end the media blackout. Union leaders were released on bail on August 23, but the media blackout is still in force.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "These unfortunate developments reveal a rapid and severe deterioration of press freedom and union rights in Jordan. The media blackout crushes journalists’ ability to report on issues of the utmost importance, and restricts people’s right to engage in a democratic debate. Jordan must immediately lift the media blackout and release Emad Hajjaj."—IFJ media release