Rights groups condemn detention of Islamists

The detention over the weekend of dozens of Islamist activists protesting against rising fuel prices constituted a violation of civil liberties, local right groups said. “What the government has done goes against the rights of citizens to express themselves freely,” said Nizam Assaf, director of the Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies. “It indicates that Jordan doesn’t have a democratic government.” On 8 April, security officers briefly detained and questioned 25 members of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan’s main opposition party. Members of the group had reportedly distributed leaflets urging shop owners in the capital, Amman, to observe a two-hour strike to protest a government decision to increase fuel prices. The IAF members were released after being questioned by police for five hours. However, more than a 100 of the party’s members remain in custody, IAF Secretary-General Zaki Saad Bani-Irshayd told Arabic-language news channel Al-Jazeera. The government, meanwhile, denies the reported detentions. “No one was detained; they were just questioned,” said government spokesperson Nasser Judeh. “As in every country, demonstrators require a permit from the authorities and, in this case, the IAF members didn’t have one.” Nevertheless, the group is insisting on carrying on with its protest. As a first step, the IAF plans to send a petition to the government outlining its objections to the move. “There’s public outrage because of the fuel price increase, which doesn’t meet poor people’s expectations for better living standards,” said Zuhair Abul Ragheb, vice-president of the IAF’s consultative council and a member of parliament. The petition will also suggest alternative measures for raising revenues, including increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco. The price hike – the third in as many months – was put into effect on Sunday. Government officials defended the move, saying it was necessary to reduce a widening budget deficit caused by surging international oil prices. To offset the additional financial burden on local consumers, authorities will offer financial assistance, estimated at US $140 million, to low- and medium-income households.