Lower House refers Anti-Terrorism Law amendments to legal panel

AMMAN — The Lower House on Tuesday referred the draft amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Law to its Legal Committee to examine the bill and provide MPs with its recommendations.

The decision was taken after a dispute arose between MPs, with some voicing support for the draft amendments and others rejecting them.

Former Lower Speaker MP Abdul Karim Dughmi (Mafraq, 1st District) criticised the bill, saying “there is no need for this legislation,” as the government did not introduce any significant changes.

He led a campaign under the Dome against the bill, but the House voted against his proposal, sending it to the Legal Committee for examination.

Out of the 104 MPs present in the meeting, only 47 voted in favour of rejecting the bill.

MP Mohammad Al Haj, a member of the Islamic Centrist Party bloc, charged that “certain external powers imposed this draft bill” on Parliament, while former House speaker and current MP Abdul Hadi Majali (National Current Party) described some of the law’s provisions as “harsh”. 

He called for referring it to the Legal Committee and discussing it thoroughly.

Other MPs expressed opposition towards this piece of legislation, arguing that the crimes under its jurisdiction are covered under other laws, including the Penal Code.

However, MP Mohammad Qatatsheh (Tafileh, 1st District) linked the importance of the draft bill to the ongoing instability and terrorist activities across the region.

“It is an important law amid the chaotic security situation surrounding our country,” he said.

Speaking at the session, Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni noted that some provisions and crimes under the anti-terrorism bill fall under the jurisdiction of other laws, but “we want to bring such crimes under one specialised bill, used by special courts.”

MP Rula Hroub (Stronger Jordan Party) said the law expands the scope of terrorist crimes to include even certain debates broadcast on satellite TV channels, hence, “it violates public freedoms and rights.”

Deputy Mefleh Ruheimi (Jerash, 1st District) suggested that MPs give the bill urgency status as there are terrorist activities taking place each night on “our northern border”.

During Tuesday’s session, deputies also endorsed the temporary agriculture law and voted against forming a panel to probe alleged interference in the 2007 and 2010 parliamentary polls after a group of deputies submitted a memo proposing that.