Jordan releases detained publisher

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 14 May 2012

Jordanian authorities released online newspaper publisher Jamal Muhtaseb on bail after three weeks in detention, a state security court prosecutor said. He faces charges of propagating anti-regime sentiment after his website published allegations involving royal officials. Rights groups criticized the detention as an attack on free speech.

Summary

AMMAN:A Jordanian prosecutor says authorities have freed the publisher of an online newspaper who was arrested three weeks ago after his website posted an article alleging misconduct by royal officials. A prosecutor at the state security court says Jamal Muhtaseb was released on bail Sunday. The amount was not disclosed. The prosecutor spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to brief the media. Muhtaseb has been charged with propagating "anti-regime sentiment." Muhtaseb's Gerasanews.com published a story alleging that the office of Jordan's monarchy told parliament not to refer to trial a former minister accused of corruption in a housing scheme backed by King Abdullah II. Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists have criticized Muhtaseb's detention, calling it an assault on free speech.- AP

KEY POINTS:

• A state security court prosecutor said Jamal Muhtaseb was released on bail on Sunday.
• Muhtaseb was detained for three weeks after Gerasanews.com posted allegations of misconduct by royal officials.
• He has been charged with propagating anti-regime sentiment.
• The article alleged the monarchy’s office urged parliament not to send a former minister to trial over a housing corruption case.
• Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the detention as harmful to free speech.