Jordanian PC leaders arrested after reporting war

Two leaders of the Jordanian Communist Party were arrested on Sunday (8) after the party demonstrated against the imperialist war led by the United States and Israel in the region.

In a statement released this Monday (9), the organization denounced that the detention of members of its Political Bureau represents an attempt to pressure the party to abandon its positions against military escalation and the repression of political forces that criticize the conflict.

According to a statement released by the organization, leaders Dr. Omar Awad and Osama Zain Aldin were detained on Sunday night (8) by Jordanian security authorities. The note states that the action occurred arbitrarily, without a legal basis.

“The arrest was carried out in a rude manner and through arbitrary procedures, without any legal justification or basis for this repressive measure,” declared the party.

The statement also mentions the arrest, the previous Wednesday, of university student Bahaa Aldin Hisham Ahmad, a militant linked to the organization. For the party, the arrests indicate the continuity of policies aimed at restricting political and party activity in the country.

In the note, the party states that the arrest of its leaders seeks to pressure the organization to abandon its political positions.

“The arrest of party officials is nothing more than a desperate attempt to pressure the Party to abandon its policies and principled positions,” the document states.

The party also maintains that the measure represents a violation of national legislation and international commitments made by Jordan.

According to the statement, this is “a blatant attack on the Jordanian Constitution and the laws that regulate political life”, as well as an attempt to limit freedom of organization and expression.

The organization demands the immediate release of those detained and calls on political forces, trade unions and human rights entities to mobilize against repression and in defense of public freedoms in the country.

“We demand the immediate release of the detained comrades and call on political parties, national forces and trade union and human rights organizations to raise their voices for the release of political prisoners and for the defense of public freedoms”, says the note.

Hashemite monarchy maintains history of restrictions on political activity

Jordan is a monarchy ruled by the Hashemite dynasty and considered one of the United States’ main allies in the Middle East. Since 1994, the country has maintained a peace treaty with Israel and strategic cooperation with Washington, especially in the areas of security and regional politics.

Although it has Parliament and allows the existence of parties, the political system concentrates broad powers in the hands of the king, who can appoint governments, dissolve the Legislature and exert strong influence over the security apparatus.

The country’s political history also includes long periods of restrictions on party activity.

In 1957, following an internal political crisis, the Jordanian government banned political parties and imposed martial law, a measure that pushed opposition organizations, including the Jordanian Communist Party, underground for decades.

The partial legalization of subtitles only occurred in the late 1980s, after social protests that pressed for political reforms.

Founded in 1951, the Communist Party of Jordan was among the organizations most affected by this period of political repression. Leaders and activists were arrested or persecuted, and the party’s activities were severely limited during much of the 20th century.

Even after the formal reopening of the party system, left-wing parties continue to denounce restrictions on political organization and the activities of unions and social movements.

In their documents and public statements, Jordanian communists also criticize the country’s economic and military dependence on the West and political cooperation with Israel.