Samer’s article was met with a flurry of criticism in recent weeks from Arab and Jordanian press.  He has been accused of treason and some commentators even called for there to be a fatwa placed against him.  One paper threatened that if he didn’t stay quiet, they would pursue his father.  Defending Palestinian rights in Jordan may not be popular, but Libdeh’s freedom of speech is sacrosanct.

 

Libdeh believes that the campaign against him is being orchestrated by elements within the security aparatus.  "This illustrates the misconception the international community holds about the Jordanian regime," he told CyberDissidents.org.  "From one side, the government tries to mislead the world with the appealing language of tolerance, peace and coexistence, while practically, it exercises systematic oppression and persecution against its own citizens."  

 

Despite Jordan’s alliance with the West, it is still ranked not free by Freedom House.  Criticizing the King for his policies vis a vis the Palestinians remains a dangerous activity, as evidenced by the threats and personal accusations against Libdeh.  CyberDissidents.org supports the right of all Jordanians to criticize the government.  We hope that a civil discourse can follow rather than insults, threats and accusations against family members.