Jordan journalist Ahmed Hassan Al-Zoubi’s health deteriorates in overcrowded prison

Jordanian human rights activists have raised concerns about the health of detained journalist Ahmed Hassan Al-Zoubi, who requires urgent medical attention in prison.

Al-Zoubi has complained about his diabetes while held in the overcrowded Marka Prison, located in the capital Amman, sources told Arabi21.

Tests showed an increase in enzymes in Al-Zoubi's kidneys, indicating that his diabetes is worsening.

Prison authorities have not responded to requests to his family's request to transfer him to Bab Al-Hawa prison in Irbid, closer to where they live.

The New Arab understands that Al-Zoubi’s lawyers have also called for his prison sentence to be replaced with community service and that prison authorities have refused visits from friends and journalists as a form of punishment.

Al-Zoubi was arrested in July based on a court ruling issued against him a year ago, where he was sentenced to a year in prison for a post on Facebook criticising the Jordanian government.

Amnesty International condemned his arrest in July and said he was imprisoned for criticising the authorities' response to transport workers' strikes in the southern governorate of Ma’an.

The rights group added that he was convicted under Article 150 of the Penal Code and Article 15 of the country’s previous Cybercrime Law for "inciting strife".

"No one should be imprisoned simply for expressing criticism of the authorities on social media. Ahmad Hassan al-Zoubi’s detention is part of a widespread, ongoing crackdown on dissent in Jordan which has in recent months targeted hundreds of individuals," Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa said.

"In addition to his arbitrary arrest and conviction, he also faced an unfair trial on charges that are not recognizable crimes under international law," she added, calling for Jordanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him.

Amnesty highlighted that Al-Zoubi was imprisoned after an appeals court issued its verdict without setting court sessions and allowing the journalist and his lawyer to present a defence.

The group added that while the law allows for special appeal requests before the Cassation Court on an exceptional basis, the minister of justice refused three requests by Al-Zoubi's lawyer to appeal the case.

Since his imprisonment, there has been a huge social media campaign calling for his release.

"An invitation to everyone to participate in this online storm in solidarity with journalist and writer Ahmed Hassan Al-Zoubi today on Friday 6 September at 9 PM," one social media user wrote on X.

"The writer Ahmed Hassan Al-Zoubi has the right to get treatment, it’s his natural human right. The government, minister of justice, director of security and prison authorities are all responsible for the shortcomings when it comes to his health and neglecting him…a special pardon needs to be grated to him due to his health condition," another wrote on Facebook.

Jordan has seen a steady erosion in civil rights in recent years and an uptick in state persecution against activists and journalists, according to rights groups.

In September 2022, Human Rights Watch said that Jordanian authorities "detain, interrogate, and harass journalists, political activists and members of political parties… to quash political dissent".