KING PARDONS TOUJAN FAISAL: EFFECT ON HER

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003620

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2012
TAGS: PGOV PHUM JO
SUBJECT: KING PARDONS TOUJAN FAISAL: EFFECT ON HER
POLITICAL FUTURE UNCLEAR

REF: A. AMMAN 2559

B. 3249

Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS: 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. King Abdullah issued a pardon June 26 which
released Toujan Faisal from detention and vacated the State
Security Court's decision to sentence her to one and one half
years in prison (reftels). Faisal, who had been hospitalized
due to deteriorating health, was detained for 100 days.
According to media reports, she is currently convalescing at
home. Whether she will be able to run for parliament or hold
other offices in light of this pardon is unclear. END
SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
FAISAL PARDONED FROM SENTENCE, STILL GUILTY OF SEDITION
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Toujan Faisal was released from the King Hussein
Medical Center June 27 after being issued an official pardon
by the King. Her health is not good, but she is expected to
recover fully from her hunger strike as well as from breast
cancer (as reported by local media). The King has been under
pressure to pardon the former MP from within the GOJ as well
as from Jordanian human rights activists and the local
Circassian community. Reportedly, PM Abul Ragheb, after
meeting with Circassian community leaders, sent a letter to
the King requesting her release. (Note: the PM is widely
believed to have been the main driving force behind Faisal's
arrest/imprisonment - reftels). Long-time Embassy contact
and human rights activist Fawzi Samhoury (protect) explained
that the pardon is from punishment only, and that Faisal is
still convicted, by the State Security Court, of the crime of
sedition against the GOJ. The limit of the pardon was
confirmed by a senior GOJ official. The conviction presents
a barrier if Faisal attempts either to run for parliament or
to hold another office; Samhoury explained that Jordanian law
prohibits people guilty of 'non-political' crimes from
seeking office. Note: 'non-political crime' is a term not
defined by statute or legislation, and if Faisal does seek
public office she may argue that her conviction was of a
'political' crime' in an effort to obviate this barrier.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) The pardon of Faisal is a politically savvy move by
the King. Many Jordanians were hoping for the pardon,
believing that the former MP, although argumentative and
offensive to many, was the victim of a political vendetta.
Where Faisal goes from here is uncertain, but assuming that
her health recovers, it will be interesting to see what the
effect of her recent experience in the State Security Court
will have on her outspoken character. If there is an avenue
through which Faisal can run for office legally, she may
resurface in the Jordanian political scene.
Gnehm