Archive: jordan

28th November 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
European diplomats in Jordan think the EU is being too uncritical of King Abdullah, according to a new policy memo from the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). "There is growing consensus among European diplomats in Amman that the reform process lacks meaningful substance," it says. "… Read more
22nd November 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
  Calls are growing for the reinstatement of Dr Rula Qawas who was dismissed from her post as dean of the languages faculty at the University of Jordan over a film complaining about sexual harassment on the campus. Last year, students from Qawas's feminist theory class made a two-and-a-half-minute… Read more
21st November 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
Last week's riots could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for King Abdullah of Jordan. Gulf monarchs, nervous about any challenges to hereditary rule in the Arab region, are now looking at ways to prop up his throne. In the Financial Times [subscription] Simeon Kerr reports: "Days after… Read more
19th November 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
King Abdullah of Jordan paid tribute to his security forces yesterday while visiting injured officers in hospital: "They are our brothers and our sons, who displayed the highest level of professionalism, responsibility and wisdom in dealing with the recent events," he said. Fifty-eight police… Read more
12th November 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
Mohammed al-Dahabi, a former head of Jordanian intelligence, has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for "embezzling public funds, money laundering and abuse of public office".  He has also been fined $30 million and ordered to return the $34 million he is said to have laundered and embezzled while… Read more
6th November 2012
By: Brian Whitaker
The Islamic Action Front – the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan – has called on the government to prosecute "worshippers of demons".  The IAF's call for a crackdown came after protesters attacked a café in Amman which was holding a Halloween party last Thursday night. About 200… Read more
8th November 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
How stable is Jordan? That is the question addressed in a new report from the Brookings Doha Centre. In common with many of its regional neighbours, Jordan has witnessed street protests since the Arab Spring began, but nothing on a dramatic scale, and King Abdullah has been trying to fend off… Read more
2nd October 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
The Jordanian government appears to have backed down following an outcry over a proposed law that would discourage journalists from exposing corruption. On Thursday, the lower house of parliament approved the draft law which is meant to combat corruption but also imposes fines of 30,000-60,000… Read more
2nd June 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
A journalist in Jordan was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment on Wednesday after reporting that a billionaire businessman jailed for corruption had been allowed to leave the country. Alaa Fazzaa, editor of a news website, khabarjo.net, was accused of "undermining the monarchy and the constitution… Read more
15th May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
It was in February 1999 that King Abdullah II came to the throne in Jordan. The following July, Mohammed VI became king of Morocco, and a year later Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father as president of Syria. At the time, all three were hailed as a new generation of modern Arab leaders but, more… Read more