Jordanians call for release of detained journalist

[News_Editor]

Jordanians call for release of detained journalist

2011-06-04 11:00:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMMAN, JORDAN (BNO NEWS) -- Dozens of journalists and political activists on Friday staged a protest in the Jordanian capital of Amman calling for the immediate release of Jordanian journalist Alaa' Fazzaa'.

Ammon News reported that protesters demanded the government to stop arresting and harassing journalists.

Fazza' was apprehended on Wednesday by order of the State Security Court for 14 days pending investigation. He was arrested over news he published on an electronic news site that relayed material posted on a Facebook page calling for reinstating Prince Hamzah as Crown Prince.

Fazzaa's detention came on the backdrop of a complaint filed by former Minister of Public Works Muhammad Taleb Obeidat and former Minister of Media Affairs and Communications Nabil Sharif against him over the report which listed their names as figures that had joined the Facebook page.

Despite the fact that Fazza' has over 10 cases in civil courts against him related to press and publication, a special military court abruptly interfered to detain the journalist, in contradiction with King Abdullah II's repeated directives against the arrest and detention of journalists.

Jordanian King Abdullah II on Wednesday ordered the release of Fazza', after meeting with editors-in-chief of daily newspapers. Fazza', however, remains detained at Al Juwaideh prison after the prosecution denied his bail, citing that bail may only be placed to release detainees on Mondays and Wednesdays, despite the King's directives for his release.

According to Ammon News, the case against Fazza' was transferred from a civil court to the special military court by orders of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, who has warned that "anyone who accuses the government or officials of corruption without providing evidence to be referred to the Attorney General."

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