Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AMMAN2548
2009-11-23 12:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN: LOCAL GROUPS ATTACK RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KIRF PREL JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5872
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #2548/01 3271251
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231251Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6322
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 002548 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF PREL JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: LOCAL GROUPS ATTACK RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REPORT

REF: A. AMMAN 2452

B. AMMAN 2385

C. AMMAN 2227

D. AMMAN 2018

E. AMMAN 1115

F. AMMAN 990

G. AMMAN 569

Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 002548

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF PREL JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: LOCAL GROUPS ATTACK RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REPORT

REF: A. AMMAN 2452

B. AMMAN 2385

C. AMMAN 2227

D. AMMAN 2018

E. AMMAN 1115

F. AMMAN 990

G. AMMAN 569

Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. Summary: After an initial positive response (ref A) to the
2009 International Religious Freedom (IRF) report, three
local organizations have publicly criticized the report. The
National Center for Human Rights (NCHR),the Arab
Organization for Human Rights (AOHR),and the Jordanian
Inter-faith Coexistence Center each stated that religious
freedoms are guaranteed under Jordan's constitution and that
these freedoms are widely enjoyed by all citizens. NCHR and
AOHR further claim that the IRF report will instigate
sectarian strife and hinder inter-faith efforts by provoking
religious sentiment among minority groups. Local media
widely covered the organizations' statements and published
editorials questioning the motives of the report and
defending Jordan's level of religious freedom. Some
editorials and statements, including at least one Christian
leader, pointed at non-traditional or Zionist-friendly
churches as the real problem. End Summary.

NCHR: "Report Instigates Sectarianism"
--------------


2. (U) On November 7, the NCHR issued a press statement
strongly criticizing the IRF report. The statement warns
that the manner in which the U.S. deals with religious
freedom may hinder inter-faith dialogue and unity in
Jordanian society while bolstering extremism by provoking
religious sentiment among minority groups. NCHR called for
an evaluation of religious freedom among scholars, thinkers,
and the educated instead of through a political report
designed to protect U.S. economic and strategic interests.
NCHR further states that the report methodology is based on
American standards and values and not on the consensus of
nations as outlined in international conventions. The
statement also argues that there are no contradictions
between the Jordanian constitution and the Convention on
Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, as highlighted in the IRF report. Finally, the
statement says that the IRF report fails to address Israeli
practices which discriminate against the Palestinian people
and prevent them from conducting the religious rites. (Note:
Post will place the complete NCHR statement in English on
Intellipedia and e-mail a copy to NEA and DRL. End Note.)

NCHR Statement Opens Floodgate of Criticism
--------------


3. (U) The NCHR press statement was followed by critical
public statements from other non-government bodies and the
media, many of which repeated NCHR claims that the IRF report
is misguided and hinders co-existence and dialogue. On
November 14, the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR)
held a press conference to refute the report. The Director
of AOHR, along with Father Rifaat Bader, of the Roman
Catholic Church, called the "allegations" in the report
"fabrications" and stated that Christians in Jordan enjoy
equal rights under the constitution. Father Bader further
claimed that the report will instigate sectarian strife and
noted that problems lie not with the "traditional churches"
but with "missionary groups" who create problems in society.
AOHR reportedly urged the government to summon the Ambassador
to express anger about the IRF report.


4. (U) The Jordanian Inter-faith Coexistence Center, led by
Father Nabil Haddad of the Malachite Catholic Church, also
issued a public statement on November 16, the first time the
Center has done so. The statement was rhetorically less
divisive than the NCHR and AOHR statements and did not state
the report will instigate sectarianism. However, Father
Haddad claimed the 2009 IRF report contained "inaccuracies"
though he did claim it was an improvement over prior years'
reports. The thrust of the statement was that religious
freedoms are guaranteed under the constitution and that the
government widely respects these freedoms.


5. (U) Local Arabic-language media widely covered the NCHR
and Coexistence Center statements, as well as the AOHR press
conference. Several editorials also attacked the IRF report
with similar claims that religious discrimination does not
exist in Jordan and that religious freedom is protected. The
editorials also questioned motives behind the report or
denounced the U.S. for "judging" other countries when it has

AMMAN 00002548 002 OF 003


its own problems. Tareq Masarweh, columnist at Al-Rai daily
newspaper, asked the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and
Protestant churches in his November 10 column to publicly
denounce the IRF report and object to Christian sects that
promote Jewish thoughts and Zionism in Jordan. In fact,
Masarweh states, "The United States can accept hundreds of
Zionist churches but Jordan should not accept one (such)
church." (Note: Evangelical churches have often been blamed
for supporting Zionism. Comments regarding Zionist churches
are often pointed at Evangelical churches or missionary
groups. End Note.)

NCHR Attacks Again
--------------


6. (SBU) NCHR criticism of State Department human
rights-related reports has been common under their new
leadership, which was changed in July 2008 after former Board
Chairman Ahmed Obeidat was asked to resign. The resignation
came after Obeidat signed a widely disseminated letter to the
GOJ criticizing its economic reform and privatization
program. Adnan Badran, a former Prime Minister whose tenure
lasted ten months in 2005, was appointed as the new Chairman
and Muhyieddeen Touq, former diplomat, took over the
day-to-day operations as the Commissioner General. (Note:
The NCHR Board Chairman and entire board are appointed by
Royal Decree based on the Prime Minister's recommendations.
End Note.)


7. (SBU) NCHR, in fact, was the most vocal critic of the
Jordan chapter of the 2008 Human Rights Reports (HRR).
Criticism of the HRR report was detailed in a letter from
Badran to the Ambassador. The letter was penned on March 8
and received by Post on March 11, the same day major local
media outlets reported on its content with headlines such as
"U.S. State Department Report Mostly Based on Unreliable
Sources" (Jordan Times, March 11, 2009). Badran claimed the
report suffered from "serious methodological problems" and he
took special exception to the manner in which NCHR was
portrayed. Badran asserted that the NCHR is not influenced
by the government and enjoys complete administrative and
financial independence, despite the government's block
funding and appointment of NCHR leadership.


8. (SBU) The religious freedom section of the HRR report was
also singled out for criticism. Badran's letter claimed that
Jordan fully respects religious freedom and that NCHR has
never received a single religious freedom complaint despite
asking State Department officials in late 2008 to forward any
such claims. Badran's letter referred to a November 2008
meeting between Touq and a DRL/IRF visitor to ascertain NCHR
openness to receive religious freedom complaints. After the
positive response, Post subsequently advised two individuals,
a member of the Baha'i assembly and an apostate, to formally
lodge complaints using NCHR procedures. Both were
unsuccessful in their attempt to file a complaint. The
Baha'i assembly unsuccessfully tried on five occasions to
schedule a meeting. The apostate left without filing a
complaint after the NCHR staffer insisted on meeting in front
of two unidentified men.

NCHR Staff and Other Organizations Question NCHR Leadership
-------------- --------------


9. (C) Some local human rights organizations, such as the
Mizan Legal Center for Human Rights and the Adaleh Center for
Human Rights, privately question the efficacy of the NCHR
under its new leadership and given its relationship with the
government. These organizations still contend that NCHR has
a role to play, but believe its voice and leadership could be
stronger. In particular, they want NCHR to be more critical
about issues such as women's rights, citizenship issues, and
civil society freedom. Instead, they contend NCHR merely
"assists" the government on "easy" issues where there is
already a political will, such as trafficking-in-persons and
prison reform. NCHR staff have also privately questioned the
leadership's criticism of the HRR and IRF report. Atef
Al-Majali, Head of the NCHR Complaints Unit, told Poloff on
November 8 that he disagrees with NCHR's decision to once
again openly criticize another organization's human rights
report. (Note: NCHR has also publicly criticized reports by
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, for instance.
End Note.) Al-Majali contends that there are religious
freedom concerns that, while sensitive, should be openly
discussed and addressed.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Comment: Public reaction to the 2009 IRF report was
muted until NCHR's statement sparked a wave of criticism.
Interestingly, the 2008 IRF report, by all accounts, was far

AMMAN 00002548 003 OF 003


more critical towards Jordan but there was relatively little
public reaction. Regardless of NCHR's intended purpose, its
statements against other organizations' human rights reports
are cementing feelings among some activists that NCHR is
truly not independent nor fully serving its intended purpose.
Evangelical leaders expressed concern that a public outcry
over the report would be directed at "pro-Zionist" and
"non-traditional churches." Public intra-Christian fighting
after the 2009 report's release remains limited to the above
statements, but many Christian leaders hope that the
finger-pointing will not increase. Post will monitor the
situation and continue to discuss the report and religious
freedom issues with the range of interlocutors, including
those who have expressed criticism. Further reaction will be
reported septel. End Comment.
Beecroft