Jordan

Perceived to be one of the most stable countries in the region, human rights in Jordan continue to be severely undermined by abusive measures within the framework of counterterrorism.

The broad and vaguely defined 2014 Anti-Terrorism Law allows for abuses to be committed by the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) and the State Security Court (SSC). The GID, which is directly controlled by the king, routinely subject detainees to torture and hold them incommunicado. The SSC, an exceptional jurisdiction whose judges are appointed by the executive, systematically sentences defendants to heavy penalties following severely unfair trials during which confessions extracted under torture are admitted as evidence.

Furthermore, peaceful dissenting voices are systematically brought before the SSC on trumped-up charges of terrorism, which are, in certain cases, coupled with accusations of lèse-majesté. Journalists and media workers face additional restrictions and often practice self-censorship to avoid facing prosecution.