Jordan: Drop all cybercrime charges against Omar Al-Zayoud immediately

Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR) is deeply concerned about the arrest of Omar Al-Zayoud, publisher of Al-Hashimiya News, on March 17 following a complaint made by the former Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh. The complaint alleged that Al-Zayoud published an inaccurate report about him. Charged under Jordan's controversial Cybercrime Law (No. 17 of 2023), this case highlights the growing restrictions on freedom of expression in Jordan and an ongoing effort to silence dissenting voices.

The Public Prosecutor in Amman ordered Al-Zayoud's arrest after questioning him on allegations of "inaccuracy, defamation, and insulting the dignity of individuals." Under the law, he faces a potential prison sentence of three months to three years and fines ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 Jordanian dinars (USD 7,000 to 28,000). Despite Al-Hashimiya News retracting the report in question, Al-Zayoud’s request for bail was denied, resulting in the extension of his detention.

Al-Zayoud's case is not an isolated one. Since the Cybercrime Law came into effect, it has been used to suppress critical voices. Between August 2023 and August 2024, Amnesty International documented hundreds of prosecutions, targeting journalists, activists, and citizens for expressing solidarity with Palestine, criticizing government policies, or calling for peaceful protests.

The Cybercrime Law’s vague and broadly worded provisions, which criminalize poorly defined online expressions—such as social media posts labeled "fake news," "threats to national unity," or "character assassination"—grant authorities excessive power to punish individuals for exercising their fundamental right to free expression.

These provisions violate Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Jordan in 1975, which requires that restrictions on speech be clearly defined, necessary, and proportionate. They also breach Article 15 of Jordan’s Constitution, which explicitly protects press freedom. This legal ambiguity has created an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, directly undermining Jordan's international human rights obligations and constitutional guarantees of free expression.

SIHR calls on Jordanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Omar Al-Zayoud and drop all charges related to his journalistic work. We also demand the repeal or comprehensive reform of the Cybercrime Law of 2023 to ensure it aligns with international human rights standards and protects the right to free expression.

We stand in solidarity with Omar Al-Zayoud and all journalists who continue to inform the public despite the threat of persecution. Silencing these voices does not protect society—it only deepens mistrust and weakens the fabric of democracy in the country.