AMMAN — A protest Friday by the supporters of a lawmaker
whose Lower House membership was frozen stirred waves and triggered a
nationwide debate on whether blocking main veins in urban areas was an
acceptable behavior.
اضافة اعلان
Dozens of MP Osama Al-Ajarmeh’s supporters blocked a highway
west of
Amman to protest the Lower House’s yearlong suspension ruling, which
followed the lawmaker’s remarks that his colleagues considered as “insulting
and demeaning to the House.”
Following Friday’s events, tribal figures intended to host
supporters of the MP but were faced with “strict measures” from law enforcement
agencies, which went on to demolish the tent intended for the gathering.
Unconfirmed reports said that the tent was allowed to be erected later in the
day.
Ajarmeh’s backers’ spin was that they were fighting
injustice and corruption by demanding a reversal of the punishment, which was
decided by an overwhelming majority on Thursday.
Alaa Shahwan told Jordan News that “our demands are clear.
We demand that injustice against MP
Osama be removed; we demand that he returns
to the House and for those arrested (among protesters) to be released. This is
a patriotic stance against corruption and despotism.”
Abu Mohammed Sawaeer pointed that their protest was
“peaceful and the road blocked is a service road not a main highway,” charging
that the traffic jams were caused by the intensive police presence in the area.
Earlier today, Minister of Interior Mazen Al-Faraya warned
against “gatherings that damage our social fabric and disrespect the rule of
law… The state will not allow for these gatherings to be used by private
agendas and spread fear among people”, according to the Jordan News Agency,
Petra.
Pundits agree. They see that such actions should not be
tolerated and the law should be enforced regardless of any other
considerations.
Mohammad Zoubi, a former public prosecutor, told Jordan News
that Ajarmeh “should represent his country not his clan; he should stand
against such actions not support them.”
“Some parties want to stir up troubles between us, and we
should be stronger and alert not to allow them to do so. Those who do such
actions need to be held accountable especially in such timing,” Zoubi
added.
A former minister of interior, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, told Jordan News that “usually we allow citizens to organize
protests, and we do not prevent citizens from expressing their anger. It is
their right to do that, but we do not tolerate any acts against national
sovereignty and dignity.”
The former minister added that “with all due respect to all,
Jordan remains the priority. … No one is above law, and anyone who causes any
damage [to property] or sabotage is going to be held to account.”
For her part, Lamees Sulaiman, an attorney, told Jordan News
that “such actions are illegal. We need to learn how to be mature enough and
express our anger and objection in a civilized manner, to ensure that protests
do not affect people’s lives and cause them harm.”
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