The Jordanian security services have dispraised a joint sit-in by teachers and politicians that took place in front of
the parliament headquarters in the capital, Amman. Our field team confirmed that the security forces arrested many of
the participants, including the Deputy Head of the Teachers’ Syndicate, Nasser Al-Nawasrah, and the Deputy
Secretary-General of the Partnership and Rescue Party, Salem Al-Falahat, before releasing them later.
Last Sunday, January 3, Euro-Med’s field team said the Jordanian security prevented teachers from gathering to protest
against a decision to forcibly make them retire or suspend them. This reflects a systematic policy of targeting the
teachers’ movement and putting down any peaceful protest in a way that violates the Kingdom's domestic and international
obligations.
Teachers should have the right to peaceful assembly and protest against the government’s decision to force them to
retirement or suspension for participating in previous union activities. The Jordanian government should stop
restricting rights and freedoms, most importantly, the right to peaceful assembly and expression, and enable all
citizens to express their views without restrictions or harassment.
Euro-Med Monitor renews its condemnation of the Jordanian government’s arbitrary measures against the Teachers’ Union
for defending the rights of teachers.
The Jordanian government had shut down the union, arrested its board members (and released them later), forced a number
of them to retire or face suspension, and formed a government committee to manage the Union’s affairs.
The Jordanian government should stop taking punitive measures against teachers and union activists and stop using the
law arbitrarily to prosecute and restrict union work. The authorities should respect local and international laws that
guarantee to all individuals and entities the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly.