Jordan sentences Toujan al-Faisal to 18 months for speaking out
Jordan, Politics, 5/17/2002

Former Jordanian member of parliament Toujan al-Faisal has condemned the sentence issued by the Jordanian state security court on Thursday to jail her for one and a half years, after she was charged with four accusations, mainly rumoring news outside Jordan that "undermine the sovereignty of the state."

The sentence which was released by the state security court under the chairmanship of Col. Tayel al-Raqqad is final and can not be appealed.

However, according to the Jordanian constitution, the Jordanian King Abdullah II can decide to alleviate the sentence or pardon the former member of parliament.

Following voicing of the sentence, Toujan al-Faisal ( 53 year old) said in a sharp voice "had the court been fair, it would not have lost its will." And issued this sentence, considering that the prime minister Ali Abu al-Ragheb had interfered in the decision of the court... confidentially." Toujan who was wearing the prison's costume said to her daughter (Diana) when she started crying "do not be afraid I will restore back my freedom very soon."

The court condemned Toujan by the four accusations addressed to her when the trial started on April 16, but the court confined to implement the toughest sentence which calls for jailing her for one and a half years and to fine her of (USD 29 ). This sentence relates to the accusation of spreading outside Jordan "false and exaggerated news that defames the state and undermining its sovereignty." The list of accusations against Faisal considers that her participation in March in a "people's conference" in Baghdad on that "Jordan's position regarding directing a possible American strike against Iraq is 'changeable'." The chairman of the court said that Toukan's statement is incorrect and is damaging for Jordan's reputation abroad.

In a written statement circulated by her relatives outside the court, Toujan al-Faisal called on the prime minister ( Abu al- Ragheb) to have a TV hearing together with her on her accusations addressed against him.

Toujan al-Faisal, who belong to the Jordanian Sharkas tribes, is considered the first Jordanian parliamentarian woman for the session 1993- 1997.

Previous Stories:
  Toujan al-Faisal criticizes Abu al-Ragheb strongly   (5/15/2002)
  Toujan al-Faisal faces the court without lawyers   (5/14/2002)
  Toujan al- Faisal's defendant team give up her case; arrest of al-Shameylah   (5/9/2002)

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