Jordan: NCHR says shackling media a sign of political crisis

The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) said that restrictions on the circulation of information and attempts to shackle media outlets are signs that a country is in a political crisis.

In a statement issued on the recently endorsed temporary Cyber Crimes Law, the centre stressed that freedom of expression includes the right to obtain and impart information and ideas to others without limitations, via all available media.

"The NCHR followed with great concern the blocking of websites for government employees and the endorsement of the temporary Cyber Crimes Law for the year 2010, which the government said is meant to address legislative shortcomings related to crimes committed through the use of information systems or the Internet, so as to protect individuals, institutions and national security," the statement said.

However, any measures in that direction must be consistent with international laws and covenants on human rights to which the Kingdom is signatory, especially Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires all governments to respect and maintain freedom of expression.

"Access to information is guaranteed by the Jordanian Constitution and the Kingdom was the first Arab country to adopt an Access to Information Law that secures this right for all citizens. The government's measure to block news websites in all public institutions reflects its intention to resort to secrecy rather than openness and transparency with regards to its performance," the statement added.

The government said that the law addresses regulatory loopholes in the online media sector and is meant to streamline this sector's performance and to protect the rights of individuals, adding that the widespread use of the Internet has created new forms of crimes that must be addressed with new legislation.

"The law does not undermine freedom of expression or the press. It criminalises only acts committed with intent to harm, not those committed in good faith," Minister of Media Affairs and Communications Ali Ayed said earlier this week.

The government last week announced that it had blocked access to a total of 40 websites, including local news websites, from public sector Internet service, saying public servants waste hours surfing these sites when they should be doing their duties in service of the public's interest.

A 30-day study showed that public servants visited 70 million websites while at work, only 130,000 of which were relevant to their jobs, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Marwan Juma said last week adding that the study showed that one hour wasted per day by each of the 100,000 public sector employees who have access to the Internet costs the government around JD70 million a year.

Date: 12 August 2010

Source: Jordan Times