Government says it will not detain journalists for charges related to work

AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat on Wednesday pledged that the government is committed not to detain journalists for cases related to opinion and publication.

The government defends the rights of journalists to exercise their profession as a supervisory authority, the minister said, adding that freedom of opinion and expression was preserved under the Constitution, and the government believes in the role of media as the fourth estate.

During her weekly meeting with representatives of media outlets, the minister said that the line between freedom of expression and violation lies in committing to the laws and the Constitution, which affirm the right of Jordanians to express their opinions without violating the rights of others, or insulting national constants and traditions.

Ghunaimat added that the government was also committed to improving laws and regulations that ensure more press freedom and a right to access information.

She said that professional and objective media outlets are tools that boost trust between citizens and the country’s institutions.

“Jordan prides itself on having media that are highly responsible and dependable,” she said, stressing that journalists contribute to the country’s progress.

As for Jordan’s stance regarding the Palestinian cause, Ghunaimat said the Kingdom’s position, led by His Majesty King Abdullah, was fixed and clear with no room for interpretation, stressing that no economic offer would ever substitute for a political two-state solution that ends the occupation and achieves justice and peace.

The two-state solution that Jordan believes in stipulates ending the occupation on all lands Israel entered in 1967, and ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, Ghunaimat stressed.

Ghunaimat noted that a lack of progress was the cause of the region’s tension and conflict, and the main hindrance to achieving economic development, peace and stability.

The minister also called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities relating to the Palestinian cause, highlighting the importance of its positive integration in efforts to face the region’s challenges.