Foreign correspondents in Jordan to observe a strike over 'security harassment'

Foreign correspondents club in Jordan has decided to stop working for one hour next Monday in protest of what they described as " increased acts of harassment" imposed on journalists by the security departments, including arresting and detaining them.

In a press statement following an emergency meeting for its members who represent Arab and foreign TV and the press media the club said:" this harassment has increased following the implementation of the amended sanctions law which permits bringing journalist before the state security court." The statement attributed this escalation step following the suspension of the correspondent of the Qatari al-Jazira TV for 24 hours in Maan.

For several times, the foreign correspondents club in Jordan complained to the Jordanian prime minister Ali Abu al-Ragheb over the practices of the security authorities and " the harassment and obstacles placed before correspondents of the press and the media in covering events in Jordan especially acts of riots."