Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN7429
2003-11-16 15:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

ALLEGED CENSORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS PRESS RESTRICTIONS,

Tags:  PGOV KDEM PHUM JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 007429 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2013
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM JO
SUBJECT: ALLEGED CENSORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS PRESS RESTRICTIONS,
CHALLENGES NEW, LIBERAL GOJ APPROACH

Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 007429

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2013
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM JO
SUBJECT: ALLEGED CENSORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS PRESS RESTRICTIONS,
CHALLENGES NEW, LIBERAL GOJ APPROACH

Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) The local press this week reported the alleged GOJ
censorship of a political cartoon scheduled for publication
in the weekly newspaper Al-Wahda. The government
spokesperson denied that the GOJ censors at all, and some
commentators are accusing the weekly's editor of trying to
get the GOJ to shut down his publication to suit his own
needs. While the actual events remain unclear, this case
shows that censorship (or, more likely, enlightened
self-censorship),remains a problem, and how the new
government addresses it could be a test of its reformist
intentions. The GOJ Spokesperson says she hopes to move to a
completely judicial approach to complaints about press
excesses, based solely on libel suits brought by injured
parties, but admits that "the traditional ways" may die hard.
END SUMMARY.

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CARTOON PULLING: WHO DONE IT?
--------------


2. (U) The staff of the weekly Al-Wahda claimed publicly on
November 6 that a Jordanian security official asked that a
political cartoon scheduled for publication in last week's
edition be deleted, otherwise the issue would be seized.
Press sources say the drawing showed a cabinet meeting with
each cabinet member sitting under the flag of the country in
which s/he studied (with two-thirds of the cabinet sitting
under U.S. or UK flags). According to the popularly accepted
version of the story, the weekly's editor, Mowaffaq Mahaddin,
pulled the allegedly offending cartoon and started
complaining about the "censorship" to anyone who would
listen. He also later alleged that authorities had censored
three editorials he recently wrote about the new government
for another paper, Al-Arab Al-Yowm.


3. (SBU) Al-Dustour press, where Al-Wahda is printed,
claimed to PAO staff that Mahaddin himself stopped the
printing, and a common rumor alleges that Al-Wahda may be
running out of money and is trying to provoke the GOJ into
shutting it down, rather than admit business failure. There
may be some truth to this as Al-Wahda, a political weekly of
limited circulation and influence, was reportedly financed by

the old Iraqi regime.


4. (U) Embassy contacts indicate that it is not uncommon
for particularly biting cartoons to be refused publication --
although there is a difference of opinion on who is
responsible. Many claim unnamed "security officials" as the
culprits, while others blame weak-kneed editors. At least
one famous Jordanian cartoonist publishes his work online,
including those cartoons he cannot get printed in newspapers.


--------------
THE GOJ RESPONDS: WE WILL NOT CENSOR
--------------


5. (C) Government spokesperson Asma Khader (previously a
prominent lawyer and human and women's rights activist)
publicly denied that the GOJ had had a hand in stopping the
publication of al-Wahda's cartoon, said that the new
government opposes all forms of censorship, and announced a
probe into the matter. In a November 12 meeting with the
Ambassador and PolCouns (septel),Khader said she called
Mahaddin and asked for his side of the story, claiming that
he would not identify for her the alleged security official
who had instructed him not to publish the cartoon. She
mentioned that this editor has a history of complaining to
the international press about censorship and pointed out that
the same edition of Al-Wahda carried an article highly
critical of the new government. Khader believes that
Mahaddin probably acted on his own and tried to get some
public relations mileage by manufacturing a controversy.

--------------
RULE OF LAW SHOULD BE THE RULE
--------------


6. (C) While not denying past GOJ attempts to manage the
content of the media, Khader said that the new government
would not engage in censorship of individual press articles,
even if offensive. She said that the GOJ wants individuals
who feel injured by press stories to bring libel suits in
courts to redress press excesses. One of her chief goals in
her new position as spokesperson will be to encourage a
gradual move toward complete freedom of the media. However,
she said, "we can't be open for the publication of anything
in just one day. It will take time to change the traditional
ways of doing business."

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


7. (C) GOJ officials have, at least in the past, regularly
made "suggestions" to editors to influence the content of
publications. The editors often followed these suggestions,
although they were not legally binding, and developed their
own personal guidelines for self-censorship to avoid getting
noticed in the future. This case provides a window on the
problems the GOJ faces as it tries to open the political
system and promote media freedom: new government ministers
like Khader may have true intent, but implementation of their
reforms will require real and sustained effort.

Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at

http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/

or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET
home page.
GNEHM