GOJ MOVES TO DISSOLVE THE JORDANIAN SOCIETY FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005576

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2012
TAGS: PHUM PREL JO
SUBJECT: GOJ MOVES TO DISSOLVE THE JORDANIAN SOCIETY FOR
CITIZENS' RIGHTS; FOUNDER WANTS TO WORK WITH GOJ TO AVOID
CLOSURE.

REF: AMMAN 03620

1.(C) SUMMARY. On September 19, Dr. Fawzi Samhoury,
President of the Jordanian Society for Citizens' Rights
(JSCR),contacted Poloff to report that the Ministry of the
Interior informed him it had decided to "dissolve" the JSCR
within 30 days. The GOJ contended in a letter to Samhoury
that the JSCR had refused to allow an inspection of its
financial records in each of the last three years.
Subsequently, local media coverage has reported that former
members of the JSCR have filed complaints against Samhoury
alleging, among other things, financial negligence. On
September 24, PolCouns met with Nancy Bakir, Human Rights
Advisor for the Prime Ministry, and urged that the GOJ find
ways short of dissolution to address its concerns with the
JSCR, noting that precipitous action would appear to be
harassment. Samhoury would like to work quietly with GOJ to
avoid closure. END SUMMARY.

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BACKGROUND ON THE JSCR
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2. (C) Dr. Fawzi Samhoury is a Palestinian-Jordanian dentist
living in Amman. In 1998, he founded the JSCR and registered
it with the Ministry of the Interior. Since its inception,
the JSCR has held meetings, organized conferences, written
reports, and issued statements regarding human rights issues
without any significant interference from the GOJ. Unlike
some other human rights groups here, the JSCR is not
affiliated with a political movement and is independent of
the GOJ. Samhoury is currently the embassy's most reliable
and trustworthy human rights contact.

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MINISTER OF INTERIOR
ISSUES LETTER "DISSOLVING" JSCR
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3. (C) On September 19, Samhoury received a letter signed by
Minister of the Interior Qaftar Majali, which ordered the
JSCR to be dissolved "30 days from the issuance of this
letter." In a September 23 meeting with Poloff, Samhoury
said that the IntMin contends that the JSCR is in violation
of the Charity and Societies Law of 1966, which requires
certain societies to allow the GOJ to inspect their offices
and to submit financial records. Samhoury argues that a)
because the JSCR is classified as a "normal society", it is
not subject to the provisions cited in Majali's letter and
that b) the GOJ has never asked for such information before,
and therefore he should be given adequate notice and a chance
to comply before such punitive measures are implemented.
Samhoury reported that Majali had called Samhoury to his
office in July and "was very rude and disrespectful."
According to Samhoury, Majali questioned Samhoury on several
issues, including JSCR's support of Toujan Faisal (reftel),
and JSCR's reporting on Palestinians who have been "stripped"
of their passports through the GOJ's implementation of
disengagement laws. Now, Samhoury said, "he just wants us to
be finished."

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HERE COMES THE SMEAR
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4. (C) Samhoury told Poloff on September 23 that he had
spoken informally with local reporters, who informed him that
the GOJ was going to orchestrate a smear campaign against
him. (Note: During this meeting at a local cafe, it was
clear that Samhoury was under surveillance). Samhoury
appeared calm and patient, but is very upset with the action
by the IntMin. Poloff told Samhoury to be patient, and to
work with his lawyers and fellow human rights advocates to
find a just solution.


5. (C) Local press has reported that the GOJ has received
complaints from four former members of the JSCR, who are
accusing Samhoury of financial negligence (i.e. failing to
report money collected from unnamed sources). Samhoury told
Poloff that a) these accusations are false; b) Samhoury was
never notified of any complaints, either by the complaining
members or the GOJ; and c) the GOJ letter notifying Samhoury
that the JSCR was going to be "dissolved" never mentioned
these complaints, although press reports indicate the
complaints were filed June 17. In addition, local press
reports the GOJ has also accused Samhoury and the JSCR of
unlawful involvement in "regional" issues (i.e. stoking
Palestinian/Jordanian sensitivities). Samhoury told Poloff
that this is untrue. "I never conclude in any of my reports
that the government is biased against the Palestinians, but
my research indicates that most of the human rights
violations here occur against Palestinians. Reporting the
facts does not make me guilty of damaging relations between
Palestinians and East Bankers," he said.
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EMBASSY EXPRESSES CONCERN TO THE PM'S OFFICE
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6. (C) On September 24, PolCouns and Poloff met with Nancy
Bakir, Human Rights Advisor at the Prime Ministry, to convey
serious USG concern over the plan to dissolve the JSCR and
urge the GOJ to find a less confrontational way to address
its concerns about the JSCR. PolCouns cautioned against any
unwarranted action against an independent human rights
organization. Bakir clearly took the point, and said that
Samhoury was a personal friend. She said that she would send
a memorandum to the Prime Minister and IntMin about the
matter. Perhaps, she said, someone in the GOJ is mad at
Samhoury, but if this is the case then it should be a matter
resolved easily.
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LOCAL ACTIVISTS CIRCLE WAGONS
AROUND SAMHOURY
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7. (C) On the evening of September 24, a group of local
activists held a meeting of support for Samhoury and the
JSCR. Samhoury told Poloff that the most vocal supporter at
the meeting was the controversial former MP Toujan Faisal
(reftel). Many of the group signed a letter to the IntMin
requesting that he reconsider his decision to "dissolve" the
society. In general, Samhoury's supporters are taking the
position that the allegations by the IntMin can be resolved
within the society through their rules/bylaws and that there
is no need for the GOJ to shut Samhoury's group down.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) The JSCR is one of only a few independent human
rights organizations in Jordan and until now, has been
allowed to do its work unfettered. Post believes Samhoury is
a genuine human rights activist, objective in his reporting,
and is without a doubt supportive of Jordan and the Regime.
For now he has decided to remain patient and to try to work
with the GOJ to resolve the matter.

GNEHM