Arab Laws Reform

In the framework of their cooperation on the regional project “Freedom of Associations” the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the Jordanian National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) organised a seminar on 18 June 2008 to scrutinize Jordan’s new political parties’ law and its ramifications for political participatory life in the country.

“This event comes just when it is mostly needed” said a representative of one of the dissolved parties in Jordan.  It is the “time to asses the law and to work for its amendments”.  

A total of 24 political parties were dissolved in April 2008 in accordance with the new Political Parties’ Law, after failing to rectify their legal status and meet the minimum requirement of founding members.

The seminar which aimed at bringing together representatives of political parties and government to discuss jointly the impact of the new law on political life in Jordan witnessed lively discussions. In spite of NCHR’s numerous attempts no government representatives were present. The participants were also lamenting the lack of interest of the parliament which is the legislative body a priori.

Participants suggested that the Ministry of Political Development should be in charge of the registration of parties and not the Ministry of Interior in order to achieve the King’s vision for better participation in the public life.  The Ministry of Interior has many other tasks to do and it would be “burdened by extra unneeded tasks” especially as the Ministry of Political Development was created for this very purpose.  

Participants also recommended amending article 5 of the law which states that the number of founders should comprise 500 persons because it contradicts not only Jordan’s constitution but also international standards for freedom of associations and the King’s vision of the future of Jordan.  Along with this article, all other related provisions should be dropped such as the 10% membership obligation from five districts.  

The issue of penalties on parties was discussed in working groups and participants agreed that only the penal code should be applied on parties as the penalties mentioned in the parties’ law are already stated in the penal code. Other penalties only hinder peoples’ participation and the development of real political life.  

“We will in any case seek an efficient communication channel (between the government and political parties) to allow for a consensus based outcome that takes into consideration both sides’ legitimate interests and concerns” said Ms. Annemie De Winter, Resident Representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Jordan and to Lebanon, Syria & Iraq .

A committee representing all attending parties, led by the NCHR, was formed to draft the final recommendations of the seminar and to submit them to the Ministry of Political Development, Ministry of Interior, and the Parliament and to the Prime Ministry in order to keep open channels of communications with the government.