Jordan: nomination for elections started, Toujan al-Faisal prevented
Jordan, Politics, 5/20/2003

The central committee for Jordanian elections yesterday rejected the nomination request submitted by former member of the Jordanian parliament Toujan al-Faisal, who was sentenced to imprisonment, for the legislative elections which will be held on June 17, while Jordanian officials said yesterday that 622 persons registered themselves in the first day of the elections to launch the parliamentary campaigns.

The Jordanian official news agency Petra quoted the committee's chairman Abdul Karim al-Malehma saying that the refusal to accept the nomination request of al-Faisal was because she was sentenced to 1.5 years imprisonment of a non- political crime "which is contradictory to the nomination requirements for the membership to the parliament according to the interim elections law no. 34 for 2001."

Al-Malehma added that "everyone who nominated himself for the parliament and his request is rejected has the right to appeal at the specialized preliminary court to the decision of the elections' central committee."

Toujan al-Faisal, the first Jordanian woman elected as a member at the Jordanian parliament from 1993 to 1997, denounced this rejection as being a "political " attempt to alienate her from the legislative elections. She stressed she will appeal this decision. She added " this decision has not surprised me. The prime minister asked me not to nominate myself." She continued "I had registered my request yesterday ( Sunday) noon time and in the evening I received a telephone call to be before the elections committee on Monday. So far they do not have enough time to study my nomination request."

Al-Faisal was held in custody in March 2002 over accusing Jordanian officials of "benefiting financially" from a recent government decision to increase certain fees on cars insurance by 100%. On May 16, 2002 she was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on charges of "undermining the dignity of the state." The King however issued an amnesty pardoning her after one month.

On the other hand, the Jordanian minister of the interior Qaftan al-Majali said in statements issued by the Jordanian dailies yesterday that 622 candidates were registered on Sunday, the first day for the beginning of registering nomination requests for the first parliamentary elections in Jordan since the Jordanian King Abdullah II desolved the recent parliament in the summer of 2001 at the end of its 4- year term.

Previous Stories:
  Jordanian government declare intention not to postpone the elections   (4/19/2003)
  King Abdullah meets with Sharon   (3/10/2003)
  Jordanian legislative elections on June 17   (2/28/2003)
  Toujan al-Faisal vows to go after corruption   (6/28/2002)
  Toujan al-Faisal vows to go after corruption   (6/28/2002)
  Al-Faisal appeals against the law according to which she was tried   (6/18/2002)
  Jordanian figures appeal for release of Toujan al-Faisal   (5/28/2002)

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