Supporting newspapers financially illegal — official

AMMAN – The government on Wednesday indicated that exempting daily newspapers from taxes and customs fees would be against the law. 

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said the law does not give exemptions to a certain sector, adding the government would be ready to solve difficulties facing print media but within legal limits, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said. 

Momani made the remarks during a meeting with the Lower House Committee of National Guidance and Media to discuss the financial woes facing dailies in the Kingdom, particularly Jordan's oldest newspaper, Ad Dustour. 

Industry leaders have been demanding the government to exempt newspapers from taxes and customs fees in order to enable dailies to maintain a steady income and to prevent the closure of key media outlets. 

Ad Dustour has been witnessing financial difficulties that left its management unable for months to pay salaries.  

The meeting was attended by executives of the newspaper and Chairman of the Social Security Investment Fund Suleiman Hafez as the state-owned agency is a major shareholder in Ad Dustour. A representative from the Jordan Engineers Association, another major shareholder, was also present at the meeting, Petra reported. 

MP Zakariya Al Sheikh, head of the House panel, said the committee would refer its recommendations over the crisis facing the print media to the House in order to set a date for a special session to discuss the issue.