Jordan National Movement

Seeking Peaceful Coexistence, Freedom and Economic Prosperity for Jordanians and their Neighbors

First Anniversary of Dr. Al-Abbadi’s Unjust Imprisonment by the Thuggish Dictator King Abdullah II of

 JNM, Amman, Jordan (Friday, May 2, 2008): On Thursday, May 3, 2007, shortly after 2:00PM, the thuggish dictator and madman King Abdullah II and his sick wife Queen Rania ordered the corrupt Minister of Interior Eid Al-Fayez to arrest Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi. The accusations: Speaking up against corruption, lawlessness and human rights abuses in Jordan. On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, King Abdullah II’s Military Court issued a tragic and unjust verdict to imprison Dr. Al-Abbadi for two years.

In his solitarily cell, Dr. Al-Abbadi stands up tall like the mountains of Ajloan (north of Jordan) and the hilltops of Amman against such tyrannical and dictatorial regime that is full of uncivilized bandits, gangs and armed militias (Al-Darak) that terrorize the people of Jordan on a daily basis, steal and auction their national treasures, inheritance, and natural resources to foreign investors in exchange for cheap commissions to fatten their own personal accounts at the expense of poor and economically-suffocated Jordanians.

During his unjust imprisonment, Dr. Al-Abbadi has been subjected to inhumane practices and different types of psychological, mental and emotional pressure. He has received poor medical care throughout his imprisonment, severely undernourished and constantly intimidated by the General Intelligence Department. Dr. Al-Abbadi’s steadfastness against this brutal regime is a badge of honor for all those people who seek, cherish and support freedom in Jordan.

By his action towards Dr. Al-Abbadi, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania have depicted a dreadful picture of arbitrary and capricious detention and daunted arrests. King Abdullah II and his gangs are now operating with a massive network of informers and plunging into a level of repression never before documented. Human rights activists and journalists have been mute on the unfair detention of Dr. Al-Abbadi, reflecting the widespread fear now by those who would oppose the king and his intelligence community.

The unjust imprisonment of Dr. Al-Abbadi proves the effect of extreme deprivation and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment to which he was subjected. The despicable collusion and brutality displayed by this stubborn king and his servant, the current Minister of Interior, civilian and military judges must not be replicated under any circumstances. We call upon all worldwide defenders of human rights to do everything within their power to hasten the release of Dr. Al-Abbadi, focus upon, censure and condemn human rights violations by King Abdullah II and his intelligence community and Gestapo-like security forces.

Cc:    President George W. Bush, The White House

          U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights Division

          Members of the U.S. Congress

The U.S. Press, the International Press, and the Arab & Arab-American Press

          U.S. & Worldwide Human Rights Organizations

          Human Rights Watch, New York

          Amnesty International, United Kingdom

          The International Committee of the Red Cross

 Text of Press Release

The Justice System In Jordan: A Recent Case of Judicial Terror!

 

King Abdullah II No Different From His Close Friend Udday Saddam Hussein

Her Majesty Queen Rania receives a honorary doctorate in educational sciences from University of Jordan President Khaled Karaki on Sunday (Photo by Nasser Ayoub)

Queen (Dr.) Rania Al-Yassin received a bogus honorary doctorate in educational sciences from the University of Jordan on Sunday, March 30, 2008

JNM, Amman, Jordan (Sunday, April 6, 2008): On Sunday, March 9, 2008, the current corrupt Minister of Interior Eid Al-Fayez testified at the Amman Court of Conciliation in the lawsuit his lawyers professed against the scholar Dr. Al-Abbadi, former MP (8 years) and Chairman of the Jordan National Movement. Al-Fayez alleges that Dr. Al-Abbdi harmed his reputation in a letter addressed to Senator Harry Reid, U.S. Senate Majority Leader. The processional description of how Al-Fayez entered and testified simply put: One example of judicial terror in Jordan’s recent history.

According to Dr. Omar Al-Elwan, Dr. Al-Abbadi’s attorney, “more than 250 police officers and security agents, carrying weapons,  accompanied Al-Fayez during his testimony…they guarded the inside and outside walls and all doors of the court and its surrounded alleys, and the major road leading to it…” The statement added that the "summoned person (Al-Fayez) made a statement and refused to take questions from Dr. Al-Abbadi’s attorney,” a stark violation of the judicial code in Jordan. Further, “the judge’s podium was surrounded by Al-Fayez personal security guards that terrorized the judge himself who failed to push them away despite repeated calls from the court…in fact, some of these guards took all the seats in the room and prevented even Dr.Al-Elwan from taking his assigned seat...” The statement continued to state that what happened at this court represents “travesty of justice, misuse of power, corruption and abuse of the basic principles of human rights.” In addition, “several human rights activists, supporters of Dr. A-Abbadi, and attorneys who attended this meeting were beaten up, injured, and jailed briefly.”

The Jordan National Movement firmly believe that King Abdullah II, darling of the West, and his devilish wife, Queen (Dr.) Rania Al-Yaseen, are behind this mess…they are totally and absolutely in control of power and all avenues of authorities in Jordan: Executive, legislative and Judicial. Dr. Al-Yasseen is widely described in Jordan as the unelected “co-ruler” of these powers. Both the King and his wife are retaliating against Al-Abbadi using Al-Fayez as an escape goat. Dr. Al-Abbadi has been a focal critic of the king's national policies and actions. Al-Fayez has accepted this despicable role so he can remain in his post as the Minister of Interior.

Several attorneys, such as Mohammed Al-Khawaldah, Hussam Abu Ruman, Baha Al-Deen Al-Dirani, Saud Al-Abbadi, Muhannad Al-Rayen, Ez Al-Din Thatha, Munor Al-Manaseer, and Ahmad Al-Ajloni, who attended this ploy of justice, serve as witnesses, and the Jordan National Movement calls on and urges all human rights organizations, the press and U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to investigate this tragic incident. Under these conditions of judicial terrorism, we are very much concerned that Dr. Al-Aaabdi will not receive fair trial.

A formal letter re: this tragic incident will be sent to Senator James Biden, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Human Rights Watch, US-based press reporters and columnists, and Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of and the Jordan Desk at the U.S. State Department. 

The Corrupt Minister Eid Al-Fayez Testifies Against Dr. Al-Abbadi

 

 Above pictures (L to R):  The absolute King Abdullah II, former MP Dr. A-Abbadi, a Jordanian woman (voter) swears on Al-Quran (watch closely a copy of the Holy book positioned directly under her right hand) before a representative of a candidate running for Parliament elections that she will vote for that candidate in exchange for 100 Jordanian Dinar ($150), and the corrupt Minister of Interior Eid Al-Fayez.

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JNM, Amman-Jordan (Sunday, March 9, 2008): The corrupt Minister of Interior Eid Al-Fayez testified today against Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi, former MP and Chairman of the Jordan National Movement. The corrupt Minister is suing Dr. Al-Abbadi for $15 million for stating on Monday, April 30, 2007, that he (Eid Al-Fayez) “gave Queen Rania a gift on her birthday worth $350,000.” It is very unlikely that this trial will be just and fair due to the travesty of the justice system in Jordan which is totally controlled by the absolute and unaccountable king and his crooks in the intelligence community.

The corrupt Minister is well-known in Jordan for receiving millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks when he was the General Director of the Iraqi-Jordanian Ground Transportation Company and the Chairman of the Aqaba Regional Authority (located at the Red Sea, south of Jordan) during the Iraq-Iran War (1980-1990). He accumulated his massive illegal wealth when he was managing and leading these sensitive positions by smuggling weapons and tons of goods to the former dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein. The late King Hussein of Jordan was fully involved in these illegal activities and provided unwavering support and cover to Eid Al-Fayez.

During his current role, King Abdullah II’s hand-picked Minister of Interior Eid Al-Fayez, Jordan has witnessed an exponential growth in human rights abuses and corruption. In fact, Al-Fayze managed the most recent Parliament and Municipality elections, which have been described by many local, regional and worldwide human rights and civil organizations and personalities as a “joke” and total “fiasco”…see the picture above showing a Jordanian woman selling her vote in exchange for $150.

The Jordan National Movement (JNM) firmly believe that the one that MUST be sued and jailed is Al-Fayez and his master the thuggish dictator King Abdullah II. Simply stated: Both and their criminal associates have brought nothing but mammoth misery, grisly human rights abuses, and endless cases of corruption to Jordan and its peace-loving and gentle-natured citizens.

Soon, JNM will meet with staff members of what is called the U.S. Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus, namely staff members of Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Brian Baird (D-WA) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). JNM will profess proofs and documents to these staff members showing the dictatorial activities of King Abdulah II and his abusive regime in Amman. Letters will be emailed and faxed to U.S. Presidential hopefuls and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which signed a $25 million Millennium Challenge Threshold (MCT) grant on Tuesday, October 17, 2006, with the unelected government of King Abdullah II with the understanding of improvements in “Political Rights,” “Voice and Accountability,” and “Trade Policy,” but produced no tangible results whatsoever re: the deteriorated political, economic and social systems in Jordan.

The King's Corrupt Judicial System Endorses Dr. Al-Abbadi’s Sentence

King Abdullah II acts as a nice guy on the international stage...but, a truly thuggish dictator at home...

JNM, Amman-Jordan (Wednesday, December 12, 2007): There is a saying in civil society: It is nearly impossible for a civilized scholar to reason with an uncivilized bandit.” Everyone knows that a civilized group of people will easily seem overpowered by the actions of an uncivilized, armed group of people who maintain power. It is especially true if this uncivilized group believes it may do as it pleases without having to reason with the rest of the world. This is exactly what is happening in Jordan these days…. … but, we must remember that the main audience of the civilized world is not composed of bandits…public opinion in democratic societies and protest of the free world also instills bravery in the oppressed…

The thuggish dictator King Abdullah II and his bandits represent at best this uncivilized, armed group. The repression of dissidents on the part of the authoritarian and absolute monarchical regime in Amman and its corrupt gangs and criminals is at its cruelest since the thuggish dictator King Abdullah II took power in February 1999.

Today, the corrupt King Abdullah II and his “diabetic” and “devilish” wife, Queen Rania, and their business partner Bassem Awadallah (the new Chief of the Royal Court and son of a convicted felon in a U.S. Federal court), used their absolute and unchecked power by exerting concerted pressure on bribed judges at the Cassation Court in Amman to uphold the 2-year prison sentence (http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=4313), issued by the Military Court on Thursday, October 11, 2007 against the scholar Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi, former Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Jordan National Movement (JNM). Dr. Al-Abbadi’s guilt, simply put: Speaking freely and continuously against rampant human rights abuses, absolute monarchy, and the utter lack of freedom of speech in the country.

The travesty of justice in Jordan is now widespread. Judges can be bribed very easily and change their verdicts by a phone call from the corrupt king and his associate gangs at the royal court and General Intelligence Department (GID). The country is now totally controlled by guerrillas and bandits in the royal family. The climate on the street is increasingly hostile. Human rights activists and opposition figures have been threatened with arrest for false charges such as “undermining the country’s reputation by spreading false information abroad.” King Abdullah II, with direct assistance from his criminal gangs, has followed through on these incredible charges.

In the coming days and weeks, the Jordan National Movement will conduct an intensive press and media campaign to expose the ugly faces of the corrupt monarchy in Amman to the international public opinion. We will attack King Abdullah II personally and distort his image and face abroard, using solid facts, quality information and shameful events conducted by this barbaric and dictatorial regime on the streets and in the heart of our beloved country, Jordan. He will be panicked of the intensity of this campaign…he will feel that his absolute, tenuous authority is undoubtedly heading towards a total collapse….please stay tuned!

King Abdullah II Sentenced Former MP and Scholar Dr. Al-Abbadi to 2 Years in Prison

JNM, Amman-Jordan (Tuesday, October 9, 2007): The thuggish and bloody dictator King Abdullah II sentenced Dr. Al-Abbadi to 2 years in prison for speaking up against corruption and human rights abuses in Jordan. Simply put: This unjustified sentence by the dictator King Abdullah II proves that such a despicable man cannot tolerate free speech because he knows that it will ultimately reveal the truth that he is mere mortal… What should the civil world expect from a king whose close friend used to be Uday Saddam Hussein?

King Abdullah II must understand that he can jail Dr. Al-Abbadi, but he won’t stop the democracy movement. His swarm of plainclothes police and military judges will not stop us from seeking and achieving genuine democracy and full respect of human rights in our beloved country, Jordan. There are two kinds of people who don’t care about saving face: Those who have no morals and those who are desperate.  The Turkish Hashemite family in Amman possesses both of these traits. The absolute ruling family in Jordan has had few morals, and now it is clear that it is increasingly feeling the challenge of public opposition. Driven by desperation, they have simply stopped caring about “face”. They are employing any possible means to suppress the people who dare to challenge their legitimacy. As long as they manage to stay in power, they will pretend that the widespread condemnation of their acts by people in Jordan and the entire world does not exist….but, the main audience of the civilized world is not composed of such bandits…public opinion in democratic societies and the protest of the free world also instills bravery in the oppressed…during these months and years in prison, the voices of civilized society will make it clear over the high walls and mountains of Amman...it will give Dr. Al-Abbadi indescribable comfort and encouragement that freedom will prevail. It will also encourage new opposition groups to arise. And in this view, the foundations of absolute monarchy and dictatorship will be shaken even further…

For more info, please stay tuned…

International coverage:

AFP: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071009/wl_mideast_afp/jordanpoliticstrial_071009083437;_ylt=Ap5aYgGOWHdRVqn76Kbw5cZYU.0A

dpa German Press Agency: http://rawstory.com/news/dpa/Jordan_court_sentences_former_MP_to_10092007.html

Reuters (Via India News): http://in.news.yahoo.com/071009/137/6lpvt.html

Press TV: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=26403§ionid=351020206

Jordan Times Newspaper: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=2767

University of Pittsburg, School of Law: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/10/jordan-ex-mp-sentenced-to-prison-for.php

NBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21205159/

Global Voices Advocacy: http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/

AHN Media Corp: http://www.feedsyndicate.com/articles/7008795997

Reporters Without Borders (Press Release):  http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23942

The China Post Newspaper: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/headlines/2007/10/09/49527/Jordan-sentences.htm

Global Voices Online: http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/12/free-speech-roundup-china-uae-jordan-iran-and-more/

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Jordan: Free Jailed Dissident

Political Prosecution Is Assault on Free Speech

(New York, September 28, 2007) – Jordan’s military prosecutor should halt the politically motivated prosecution of government critic Ahmad al-Oweidi al-‘Abbadi, Human Rights Watch said today. Jordan is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday, September 28.  

“The only reason al-‘Abbadi languishes in jail waiting for his court verdict is that he’s a government opponent exercising his right to free speech,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East division.  
 
Al-‘Abbadi, a former parliamentarian and head of the Jordan National Movement, which describes itself as a pro-democracy organization, has been held without bail since he was arrested on May 2, 2007 on charges of belonging to an unlawful group and “disseminating ... news he knows to be false or exaggerated which undermine the psychology of the [Islamic] nation.” This followed the publication of an open letter to
US
Senator Harry Reid, alleging corruption on the part of Minister of Interior Eid al-Fayez, on the movement’s website.  
 
Human Rights Watch received a copy of the letter, which was one of several similar statements or documents published since October 2006 by the Jordan National Movement which have attracted threats. For example, following a March 3, 2007 statement in which the Movement urged US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to cancel King Abdullah’s address to the joint houses of Congress, the Jordanian authorities allegedly made threats to al-‘Abbadi and his family, including harassment by the intelligence department, threats to cut off the university education of al-‘Abbadi’s children abroad, and a warning to al-‘Abbadi to stop his activities in Jordan. Under Jordanian law, since the Jordan National Movement is not specifically licensed, it is therefore illegal.  
 
Al-‘Abbadi’s trial in the military-dominated
State Security Court
is set to conclude by October 4. So far in the trial, the only offense al-‘Abbadi has been alleged to have committed is the publication of the letter, which does not espouse violence or make any threats to public security or safety.  
 
Jordan’s prime minister may refer any case for prosecution at the State Security Court, whose judges he appoints based on recommendations by the minister of justice and the chief of staff of the armed forces. The State Security Court
has denied al-‘Abbadi bail without providing a reason. He is charged for misdemeanors, which under Jordanian law do not require the defendant’s pre-trial detention.  
 
Under Jordanian law, requests for bail are the only way to challenge the lawfulness of one’s detention, a fundamental right of all detainees guaranteed by Article 9.4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which
Jordan
is a party.  
 
“In
Jordan there is a nefarious mix of outdated laws criminalizing free speech and prosecutors willing to use them again and again to silence regime critics,” Whitson said.

Printer-Freindly English Version: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/09/28/jordan16964.htm

===============================================

Borzou Daragahi, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, wrote this story re: Dr. Al-Abbadi’s arrest:

Jordan scholar imprisoned for e-mails

Ahmad Oweidi's objections to government corruption and human rights violations led to his May arrest.

 

By Borzou Daragahi
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer


August 14, 2007

AMMAN, JORDAN —
For an hour Monday morning, Bisher Oweidi held back. The 23-year-old college student saw his imprisoned father, Ahmad, for the first time in months.

The 62-year-old scholar has been held on political charges inside Jordan's Jwaideh prison since early May. Considerably thinner, he appeared tired by interrogations and worn by the routines of prison life.

"I held back my tears," Bisher, who is studying for a business degree in Spain, said in an interview after the visit. "I didn't want him to see me cry. After I got out of the prison, I started to cry."

Ahmad Oweidi, author of dozens of books about Jordan and its tribal roots as well as a controversial political activist, never took up arms or organized rallies. His group, the Jordanian National Movement, met once a month in living rooms, talking politics over coffee.

As leader of the small party, he mostly wrote e-mails decrying alleged corruption and human rights violations in Jordan to officials and newspapers.

But in Jordan, amid a crackdown on political dissent throughout pro-American Arab countries, Oweidi became an enemy of the state. The former lawmaker has been charged with heading an illegal organization, harming the government's reputation and violating the country's e-mail laws.

"He's not a troublemaker," said his wife, Jamila Abbadi. "He likes democracy. He likes to talk. He expresses his ideas."

Oweidi is an unlikely dissident. A member of a tribe associated with Jordan's security forces, he attained the rank of police colonel as a young man. He also studied in Britain and Egypt and wrote poetry and articles for small newspapers. He served in parliament from 1989 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2003.

"While he was in parliament, he talked about corruption," his wife said. "When his enemies came to power, they began to settle scores with him."

His family says he has been denied university posts because of his politics. He earns most of his money writing screenplays for soap operas. He was once arrested and released on sexual-assault charges he says were trumped up to discredit him.

Despite Washington's close ties with the Jordanian regime, Oweidi has maintained cordial relations with the U.S. Embassy in Amman, his family says.

"He's not calling for an Islamic state," Bisher said. "He's not against the monarchy. He's against the corruption of the royal court."

Oweidi's defenders say an April letter he wrote to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sparked his arrest. He alleged corruption involving the Jordanian Ministry of Interior and the court of King Abdullah II. He posted the note on the website of his political party.

Oweidi was arrested shortly after 2 p.m. on May 3, according to his family. He has been subjected to interrogation by security forces and hauled before courts, including a military tribunal. He pleaded not guilty at a court hearing last week.

Jordan's parliament this year passed a strict media law that imposes severe penalties for slander and defamation. New York-based Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders, the French free speech advocacy group, have denounced Oweidi's arrest and called for his release.

"This is the first time that someone has been arrested in Jordan because of what they posted online," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. "Using imprisonment to silence a government opponent and to cover up embarrassing scandals is unacceptable."

Bisher and his younger brother have put up a website, www.freeoweidi.com, to drum up support for their father's release.

Ahmad Oweidi, a staunch Arab nationalist, defends the role of Jordan's dominant Sunni tribes, sometimes alienating the country's majority Palestinians as well as other opposition groups. But many have now come to his defense.

"We disagree with him severely, but we don't think he should be put in jail," said Zaki Bani Arshid, head of the Islamic Action Front Party, Jordan's leading Islamic political group.

Oweidi and his wife have five children, all of them in college. During Monday's prison visit, Oweidi handed his family hundreds of pages of screenplays to sell for his family's needs.

One daughter, 20-year-old Zahra, was scheduled to marry last month, but put off the wedding.

"For now, our lives have stopped," Bisher said.

daragahi@latimes.com

Daragahi, based in Beirut, is currently on assignment in Amman.

====================================================

Also, Reporters Without Borders published this piece: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=22118

 

DR. AHMAD OWEIDI AL-ABBADI ON HUNGER AND MEDICINE STRIKE…..

 

JNM, Amman-Jordan (Monday, October 8, 2007): King Abdullah II’s Military Court will convene tomorrow, Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at 9:30AM, to pass already made “farce” judgment on Dr. Al-Abbadi’s case…please stay tuned…

Earlier News Re: This Case:

King Abdullah II’s Military Prosecutor concluded his arguments in Dr. Al-Abbadi’s case: He called for the Military Court to imprison Dr. Al-Abbadi for 5 years: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071001/wl_mideast_afp/jordanpoliticstrial_071001104417;_ylt=AgAjICmA68LRUikHjNsne7tYU.0A

--Dr. Al-Abbadi appeared again in King Abdullah II’s Military Court. The defense team of Dr. A-Abbadi presented a list of witnesses to testify; however, the same capricious Court scrapped most of the names and allowed only one person from this list to testify. To make this case even more ludicrous and funny, the same Court appointed two witnesses to testify for Dr. Al-Abbadi!!! How ridiculous this case can be?

The Court has scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday, September 26, 07, which is exactly the same date for the Conciliatory (Civil) Court hearing (concerning Eid Al-Fayez’s lawsuit against Dr. Al-Abbadi). The Court refused a request from Dr. Al-Abbadi’s Chief Attorney to postpone the military court hearing for another day: The next Military Court hearing will be held at 10:00AM and the next Conciliatory Court hearing will take place at 12:00 noon, same day! The Military Court is in a hurry to pass an already made sentence!

Rest assured King Abdullah II: The Jordan National Movement will proceed with its mission and we will keep the world posted and informed of the dirty activities and conspiracies conducted by your shameful, thuggish and dictatorial regime….you are basically such a pathetic liar!

--Dr. Al-Abbadi appeared today (Thursday, September 20, 2007) before King Abdullah II’s military court:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070920/wl_mideast_afp/jordanpoliticstrial_070920145058;_ylt=An5Tm0icniWli9NpwKuN815YU.0A

http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=2358

--Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi, former Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Jordan National Movement (JNM), is on hunger and medicine strike. Today, Dr. Al-Abbadi, diagnosed with gout, kidney and joint complications, blood pressure, and asthma, announced that he will refuse to take food or his prescribed medicine until he is released . The Jordan National Movement (JNM) announces that the evil dictator King Abdullah II bears full responsibility for any physical, psychological or emotional harm that may happen to Dr. Al-Abbadi, and urges all international human rights organizations to condemn and censure these absurd actions of the dictator King Abdullah II and his bloody regime in Amman.

Please stay tuned re: this new yet disturbing development…

--Dr. Al-Abbadi appeared today (Tuesday, August 7, 2007) before a military judge at King Abdullah II’s Military Court. After reading the alleged and baseless accusations, undermining the prestige of King Abdullah II’s absolute monarchical system, issuing political statements, and leading unlicensed political and human rights organization (Jordan National Movement), by the military prosecutor, Dr. Al-Abbadi denied these absurd and trumped up charges. Once again, the military judge turned down a bail request, submitted by Attorney Dr. Omar Al-Elwan, to release Dr. Al-Abbadi, and rescheduled a second court hearing for Tuesday, September 4, 2007. Dr. Al-Abbadi’s health has been deteriorating since his unjustified and illegal arrest, by King Abdullah II’s Gestapo-like security forces, on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. King Abdullah II has ordered these forces to delay Dr. Al-Abbadi’s access to medical care in the face of urgent recommendations by doctors at the prison’s clinic. What a nasty and thuggish regime!!! More inforamtion: http://www.jordantimes.com/wed/homenews/homenews10.htm

--Dr. Al-Abbadi’s case has been referred today (Thursday, August 2, 2007) to the Military Court by the Military Prosecutor. The case has been adjusted from criminal to felony for the alleged and baseless accusation: Defaming the prestige of the State. First court hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2007: http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/homenews/homenews7.htm.

--The Military Prosecutor, Raed Azmagna, renewed, today (Thursday, July 19, 2007), the jail time of Dr. Al-Abbadi for two more weeks. He claimed that the court is calling for a witness from abroad to testify against Dr. Al-Abbadi. Again, he has turned down another bail request by attorney Omar Al-Elwan to release former MP Dr. Al-Abbadi from jail. Azmagna’s office is located at the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) and receives his orders directly from the dictator King Abdullah II.

 --Dr. Al-Abbadi did not show up at the ACC hearing session due to medical reasons. Next hearing date: Sunday, September 16, 2007: http://www.jordantimes.com/thu/homenews/homenews7.htm

--Dr. Al-Abbadi will appear before Judge Yahya Al-Zawahrah at Amman Court of Conciliation (ACC) on Wednesday, July 11, 2007: http://www.jordantimes.com/mon/homenews/homenews4.htm

 --Attorneys of Al-Fayez are suing Dr. Al-Abbadi for $15 million. The Jordan National Movement suggests to Judge Yahya Al-Zawahrah at Amman Court of Conciliation (ACC) to take this money from the $25 million Millennium Challenge Threshold Grant that was supposed to introduce political and economic reforms in Jordan, but have gone into black holes of severe corruption at the Royal Court and Prime Ministry, with very little progress in public freedom, political rights and accountability programs.

--The military prosecutor has denied another bail request to release Dr. Al-Abbadi without giving a legal rational for this refusal. Sources close to the Military Court emphasized that the court is under constant pressure from King Abdullah II and the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) to decline any bail request, contrary to the Penal Code and current terms of the legal system in Jordan.

--Attorneys of Dr. Al-Abbadi and Eid Al-Fayez, Minister of Interior, presented their cases today, Wednesday, July 4, 2007, before Judge Yahya Al-Zawahrah at Amman Court of Conciliation (ACC). Alleged accusations against Dr. Al-Abbadi: slander and violating laws governing e-mail practices. Accusations against Al-Fayez: corruption and bribery. Dr. Al-Abbadi will appear before the ACC on Wednesday, July 11, 2007.

--Miliatry Prosecutor, Raed Azmagna, renewed today (Sunday, July 1, 2007), the jail time of Dr. Al-Abbadi for two more weeks. Azmagna accused Dr. Al-Abbadi of undermining the state's prestige and reputation, belonging to illegitimate association, the Jordan National Movement (JNM), and distributing political leaflets and statements. Dr. Al-Abbadi pleaded not guilty and refused these baseless accusations by King Abdullah II’s Military Court. Al-Jazeera’s official website, Al Arab Al Yawm Newspaper, The Middle East Times, The Jordan Times Newspaper, The Herald Tribune, and Gulfnews.com published these reports:

http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EE9DADF3-0506-4D62-957A-19DBAF381694.htm

http://www.alarabalyawm.net/uploads/8_new56.pdf

http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070701-085125-8202r

http://www.jordantimes.com/mon/homenews/homenews10.htm

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/01/africa/ME-GEN-Jordan-Lawmaker.php

http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/General/10135532.html

--Attorney Omar Al-Elwan will lead the defense team of Dr. Al-Abbadi before the Military Prosecutor, Raed Azmagna. Mr. Azmagna’s main office is located at the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) in Amman. Dr. Al-Abbadi will appear before this Prosecutor on Sunday, July 1, 2007.

--Dr. Al-Abbadi’s health conditions: lost 30 pounds and developed a skin rash of undetermined cause.

--Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi’s file has been handed over today to both the Military Prosecutor at King Abdullah II’s Military Court and the Amman Court of Conciliation. News report by the Jordan Times (Friday-Saturday, June 29-30, 2007): http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/homenews/homenews11.htm

 

JNM, Amman-Jordan (Thursday, June 21, 2007): Attorney Abdel Karim Shreideh told Al-Anbat Newspaper today that former MP Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi has been transferred from Jweideh prison to unidentified hospital in Amman due to his deteriorating health conditions after he started indefinite hunger and medicine strike on Saturday, June 16, 2007. Again, the Jordan National Movement (JNM) announces that the criminal and terrorist King Abdullah II bears full responsibility for anything that happens to Dr. Al-Abbadi.

Arabic version of this disturbing news:

الانباط

العدد 771 الخميــس 21/06/2007 عمان - الأردن

نقل احمد عويدي العبادي الى المستشفى


قال محامي النائب السابق احمد عويدي العبادي المحامي عبد الكريم الشريدة انه جرى نقل موكله من سجن الجويدة الى المستشفى اثر اضرابه عن الطعام منذ اسبوع. وكانت محكمة بداية عمان قد صادقت على قرار رفض طلب اخلاء سبيل العبادي الذي تقدم به محاموه. وكان المدعي العام قد اوقف العبادي في مركز اصلاح وتأهيل الجويدة على ذمة التحقيق على خلفية شكوى شخصية تقدم بها وزير الداخلية للادعاء بالحق الشخصي
.

 

 

 

 

 Earlier Report:

JNM, Amman, Jordan (Saturday, June 16, 2007): Attorney Abdel Karim Shreideh, key member of the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) and its Chairman of the Committee on Political and War Prisoners announced today in Amman that Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi, Former Member of Parliament in Jordan, is on hunger and medicine strike. Today, Dr. Al-Abbadi, diagnosed with grout, kidney and joint complications, blood pressure, and asthma, has announced that he will refuse to take food or his prescribed medicine indefinitely. He gave Mr. Shreideh a letter explaining his case and the mounting physical ordeal and psychological pressure he is undertaking in Jweideh prison. For further information, please click on this news report issued by Deutsche Presse Agentur: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1318471.php/Former_Jordanian_lawmaker_stages_hunger_strike_at_prison

The Jordan National Movement (JNM) announces that the thuggish dictator King Abdullah II bears full responsibility for any physical, psychological or emotional harm that may happen to Dr. Al-Abbadi, and implores all international human rights and civil liberty organizations and advocates to condemn and censure these absurd actions of the dictator King Abdullah II and his bloody regime in Amman.

Please stay tuned to further information re: this new yet disturbed development…..

 

 

Letters to Key U.S. Congressmen and Senators, and European Official

Tom Speaking

JNM, Washington, DC (Saturday, June 16, 2007): The Jordan National Movement has just sent out the following letters to these Key U.S. Congressmen and Senator, and European Official:

The Honorable Senator Joseph Biden, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

 

The Honorable Congressman Dave Obey, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations

The Honorable Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman of the U.S. Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs

The Honorable Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament

To read the texts of these official letters, please click on the following links:

http://www.jordannationalmovement.org/Letter to Senator Joseph Biden.doc

http://www.jordannationalmovement.org/Letter to Congressman Tom Lantos.doc

http://www.jordannationalmovement.org/Letter to Congressman Dave Obey.doc

http://www.jordannationalmovement.org/Letter to Prof. Dr. Hans Gert Pottering.doc

News Report from Agence France Presse (AFP) Re: The Arbitrarily Arrest of Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi by King Abdullah II of Jordan:

Lawyers of Jordan ex-MP protest month-long detention

Thu Jun 7, 1:55 PM ET

Lawyers for a former Jordanian MP jailed for over a month after describing the regime of King Abdullah II as "corrupt" have pulled out of the case to protest his continued incarceration, they said Thursday.

Ahmad Abbadi was arrested May 3 and held as part of the investigation for 15 days, a period which, according to his lawyers, can be renewed by the judicial authorities up to three times.

"Yesterday (Wednesday) we informed the judicial authorities that we were pulling out of the case because they have refused to release our client Ahmad Abbadi on bail," lawyer Abdel Karim Shreideh told AFP.

"We don't know what are the criteria (applied) by the judicial authorities in this case. We don't know if the criteria are political or legal," Shreideh added.

Co-defence lawyer Omar Alwan said Abbadi "has completed two 15-day detention periods, that is more than one month in the Jweideh prison" south of Amman.

"The authorities are not cooperating with us," he said.

The public prosecutor has declined to release Abbadi on bail despite three motions filed by his lawyers, the attorneys said.

Abbadi has been charged with "defamation," "undermining the prestige and reputation of the state" and "violation of Internet laws," according to his lawyers.

He was arrested after publishing on the Internet a letter he wrote to US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid in which he described the regime of King Abdullah II as "corrupt," according to a copy of the letter seen by AFP.

He also made allegations of human rights and media violations in Jordan. 

Fact Sheet Re: King Abdullah II’s Visit to Abbad Tribe:

JNM, Amman-Jordan (June 2, 2007): The following is a brief fact sheet from King Abdullah II’s visit to Abbad Tribe that occurred on Thursday, May 31, 2007, in the City of Eira, Salt region.

1. King Abdullah II paid for the food and the fees for renting chairs, tables and tents.

2. King Abdullah II paid stipends and hush money (bribe) to a few people in Abbad tribe who have cooperated and arranged for this absurd visit to take place.

3. Hundreds of people declined to attend, believing firmly that this visit was arranged to garner cheap support for King Abdullah II against Dr. Al-Abbadi.

4. Large signs and banners, in support of the release of Dr. Al-Abbadi from jail, were seen everywhere on site before and during this visit.

5. Eyewitnesses confirmed to the Jordan National Movement (JNM) in Amman that the visit was a complete failure. In fact, the official state press showed a very few pictures that confirm item number 3 above.

New and Updated Developments Re: Dr. Al-Abbadi’s Arrest (May 29, 2007):

Dr. Al-Abbadi in Jail Since 5/2/07   King Abdullah II Ordered Dr. Al-Abbadi into Jail

JNM, Amman--Jordan (May 2, 2007): Concrete evidence showng the premeditated intention of King Abdullah II to prolong the jail time of Dr. Al-Abbadi: A new request to bail Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi, submitted by Mr. Omar Al-Alwan, Dr. Al-Abbadi’s Chief Attorney, was rejected on Thursday, May 24, 2007, by Saber Al-Rawashdah, Amman’s Public Prosecutor, under constant pressure by King Abdullah II.  This rejection has no legal basis whatsoever in the Penal Code of any Article in the existing laws in Jordan. This document (in Arabic) can be found here: http://www.jordannationalmovement.org/New Bail Request Denied on Thursday, May 24 2007.doc

Human Rights Watch Blasts King Abdullah II’s Unelected Government for Jailing Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi:

Jordan: Release Critic Charged with Slander

Authorities Muzzling Opponents Despite New Law

(Amman, May 22, 2007) – The Jordanian government should drop all criminal charges of “slanderous speech” against former parliamentarian Ahmad Oweidi al-`Abbadi and release him without delay, Human Rights Watch said today. The government continues to use laws that violate international human rights standards to silence critics even though a new law prohibits imprisonment for speech offenses.  

On March 21, 2007, Jordan’s parliament passed a Press and Publication Law that removed imprisonment as a punishment for speech-related offenses. Article 42 (2)f of the new law provides that: “Detention as a result of the enunciation of an opinion in speech, writing or through other means of expression is not allowed.” The new law should override penal code provisions and other laws which provide criminal sanctions for speech offences, Human Rights Watch said.  
 
Amman’s Public Prosecutor Sabr al-Rawashda summoned Oweidi on May 3 on the basis of a personal complaint by the Minister of Interior, Faisal al-Fayez. The complaint related to a letter emailed by the Jordan National Movement, which Oweidi heads, accusing the minister of corruption. The next day, the prosecutor charged Oweidi under Article 132 of the Penal Code with “disseminating … news he knows to be false or exaggerated which undermine the psychology of the nation.” The Public Prosecutor also charged Oweidi under Article 191 of the Penal Code with “disparaging [remarks]... directed towards... any officer while performing his duties.”  
 
“The jailing of Ahmad Oweidi shows that Jordan’s government hasn’t shaken off its old habits of going after critics by putting them in prison,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.