Jordan refuses request to review prison sentence of famed satirist Ahmad Hassan al-Zoubi

The Jordanian Minister of Justice refused the request to re-examine the case of famed Jordan satirist Ahmad Hassan al-Zoubi, who was sentenced to a year in prison over comments on one of his Facebook posts, al-Zoubi told The New Arab on Thursday, 21 September.

Al-Zoubi, a playwright and satirist critical of Jordanian politics in the past, was sentenced to a year in prison in August after a court accused him of promoting "sectarian strife" via a Facebook post.

The post in question criticised the state's response to widespread protests over fuel prices in late 2022, which led to the killing of a police officer in southern Jordan.

The sentencing of al-Zoubi provoked anger in Jordan, and his case has been seen as a bellwether for the government's tolerance for freedom of expression.

It comes as rights groups criticise Jordan's government for what they say is an increasing crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression.

A committee of over 300 lawyers assembled to defend al-Zoubi had previously submitted a written cassation request to the Minister of Justice in August so that the court of cassation could see the case.

The prison sentence could be overturned based on procedural irregularities or errors in the lower court's judgment.

According to Alaa Hani al-Hiyari, a lawyer in al-Zoubi's defence committee, there are still two remaining options left for al-Zoubi.

"The defence committee can submit a new written request for cassation to the Minister of Justice or the Chief Public Prosecutor. The defence committee will study and consult on these two options," al-Hiyari told TNA.

His lawyers say that there were several "mistakes" in the court's ruling, including the fact that al-Zoubi was not given the chance to defend himself in the appeals process properly.

Al-Hiyari further said that the basis for al-Zoubi's ruling was not his Facebook post itself but rather comments left by others on his Facebook post that contained violent language.

"Ahmad al-Zoubi was not punished because of his post; his post does not constitute a crime. How can one be punished for an action that was not his own, under what basis could that be done?" Al-Hiyari said.

Decreasing civil space

Rights groups have noted a steady erosion of freedom of expression, assembly and press in Jordan over the last few years.

On an August visit to Jordan, Tirana Hassan, the executive director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), said that Jordanian authorities have been engaged in "an authoritarian slide" in recent years.

"The government has projected a narrative of political reform and modernisation… but at the same time, Jordanian authorities have been ramping up the harassment and persecution of citizens peacefully organising and engaging in political dissent," Hassan said.

Jordanian civil society and international rights organisations expressed concern over the newly adopted Cybercrime law, which penalises a slew of behaviour online and creates a wide pretext for controlling dissent.

On 12 August, Jordan's king approved the controversial cybercrime bill, which over 14 Jordanian and international rights groups deemed draconian.

The new law penalises a slew of behaviours online and contains vague provisions which rights groups have said give authorities a wide berth to suppress dissent and freedom of expression online.