Jordan Sentences Leading Opposition Official To 2 Years In Prison

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - A Jordanian court sentenced former Member of Parliament Ahmed Oweidi Abbadi on October 9 for "attacking the state's prestige and reputation" for comments he wrote on his Jordan National Movement's Web site. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wrote that it was outraged at the decision to imprison Abbadi.

"Jordan is a country where there is absolutely no respect for the right to inform and be informed when someone wants to express opposition to the monarchy or criticize the regime's leading players," RSF said in a press release.

"We are particularly worried by the fact that more and more journalists are being prosecuted," the statement added.

Abbadi was a Member of Parliament from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 2001. He is currently the head of the Jordan National Movement, a political party that is not officially recognized by the government.

Interior Minister Eid Al Fayez following the posting of an open letter to United States senator Harry Reid on the Internet where he accused the minister and other government officials of corruption brought the case against him.