Stories about Jordan
Beyond Jordan’s TikTok Ban
Jordan's recent ban of TikTok has sparked concerns over freedom of expression and access to information. Concerns raised as part of a broader trend of governments restricting social media platforms.
‘This Arab Life': A personal excavation of the ‘silent’ Arab generation
In an interview, author Amal Ghandour discusses her latest book, This Arab Life, and provides a rich and illuminating examination of the Middle East's dynamic past and present.
In defense of whom? Protesting Jordan’s perpetual state of emergency
Human rights groups challenge Jordan's Defense Law but the government wants to keep it in place until the World Health Organization has declared the pandemic finished.
Queen Elizabeth II through the Arab prism
For many, Queen Elizabeth II passing’s is a reminder of how different the world is now from the time of her ascension to the throne in 1952.
Opening of shipping routes from Ukraine will not abate commodity and food pressure on the Middle East and North Africa
Despite the opening up of shipping routs for grain exports from Ukraine, persistent challenges from the war will continue to exacerbate pressures on the Middle East and North Africa
Jordan's personal data protection draft bill: is it enough?
Experts say the draft bill, which still awaits parliamentary discussions, has points of strength like securing citizens’ consent before using their data, but the measures for its application raise concern.
Jordan’s sole refuge for people with disabilities risk closure as COVID-19 dries up donations
“Over 100 employees’ livelihoods were threatened and we were unable to reach our beneficiaries, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where the need is greatest," Society’s Executive Director Anni Mazagopian said.
Jordanians protest a year under a defense law with no gains, as COVID-19 cases spiral
Repeated government failures, shaky political managements of crises, compounded with the worsening pandemic-hit economy and draconian emergency laws drove people to protest across the kingdom.
COVID-19 and shrinking freedom limits in Jordan
In Jordan, recent detentions of journalists and activists in 2020 bear the hallmarks of a police state.
‘Stop silencing MENA critical voices,’ say activists in open letter to Twitter and Facebook
A decade after uprisings heavily relied on social media to topple dictators across the region, human rights defenders denounce these platforms' discrimination against voices of dissent still fight for freedoms.
As COVID-19 accelerates digital transformation, is the internet safe for women in the Middle East?
Women activists and journalists experience are particularly targeted online in attempts to intimidate, sow disinformation and discredit their work.
From counterterrorism to counter-COVID-19, governments use crises to impose continuous states of emergency in the Middle East
Fighting terrorism used to be the umbrella under which states of emergency were justified in the Middle East. Now, COVID-19 serves as a new justification for sweeping powers.
COVID-19 in the Middle East: Is this pandemic a health crisis or a war?
War-like rhetoric around COVID-19 has allowed governments in the Middle East and North Africa to execute emergency powers and impose draconian measures that would otherwise be unacceptable.
Fighting COVID-19 goes hand-in-hand with shuttering newspapers across the Middle East
As part of their measures to counter COVID-19, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, the UAE and Yemen, have all banned print newspapers until further notice.
Impact of COVID-19 containment measures on human rights and civil liberties in the Middle East
COVID-19 measures in the MENA region have especially targeted some of the most vulnerable groups such as detained human rights defenders, migrant workers and independent media.
Jordan's online censorship decisions: Non-transparent and — at times — arbitrary
The Jordanian government should take steps to ensure that its citizens’ right to online freedom of expression and information are protected.
Data protection policy void threatens privacy rights of citizens and refugees in Jordan
Jordan is considering a data protection bill. Will its adoption reinforce privacy protections in the country?
Can Jordan offer some lessons to oil-dependent ‘giants’ on renewable energy?
Jordan is the only Arab country in the region with an attractive market for commercial-scale solar.
Jordan stalls on official poverty statistics amid tax law controversy
Reports on poverty in Jordan have been absent since 2010, putting the government under fire for answers.
Jordan reclaims lands ‘rented to the Israelis’ under 1994 peace treaty
Baqoura and Ghumar, long believed to be “Jordanian lands rented to the Israelis” under the 1994 peace treaty, were revealed to be “privately-owned Israeli lands under Jordanian sovereignty”.
Jordanian health survey sparks online debate about family planning
Jordanians engage in online debates over results of a survey concerning maternal and child care.
