Jordan
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy that maintains a unique position as a stable regional partner. However, as of early 2026, human rights observers have raised significant alarms regarding a narrowing space for dissent, the impact of new digital surveillance laws, and persistent legal gaps in gender and refugee protections.
1. Shrinking Civic Space and the Cybercrime Law
The most significant shift in Jordan’s human rights landscape recently has been the aggressive enforcement of the 2023 Cybercrime Law.
Criminalizing Speech: Throughout 2024 and 2025, authorities used this law to prosecute thousands of individuals. Vague terms like “provoking strife,” “undermining national unity,” and “fake news” have been used to target journalists and activists.+1
Pro-Palestine Crackdown: Following regional tensions in 2024 and 2025, Jordan saw a wave of arrests targeting individuals participating in pro-Palestine protests or expressing critical views of the government's foreign policy on social media.
Political Prisoners: High-profile cases, such as the 2025 sentencing of political activist Ayman Sandouka to five years in prison for a Facebook post, highlight the increasing legal risks for peaceful dissent.
2. Freedom of Assembly and Association
While the Jordanian constitution guarantees the right to assemble, the practical application is heavily restricted.
Preemptive Bans: Authorities frequently require "prior coordination" that functions as a permit system. In 2025, several planned public meetings by civil society groups were blocked by the Ministry of Interior or the General Intelligence Department (GID).
Dissolution of Parties: Since 2024, nearly 20 political parties have been dissolved or denied registration under the 2022 Political Parties Law, which imposes strict membership requirements that critics say are designed to sideline opposition.
3. Women’s Rights and "Male Guardianship"
Jordanian women face systemic discrimination rooted in both the legal code and social practice.
The Nationality Law: Despite years of activism, Jordanian women married to non-Jordanians still cannot pass their nationality to their children or spouses, unlike Jordanian men. This leaves thousands of children with restricted access to health, education, and employment.
Guardianship Laws: Women under 30 often still require a male guardian’s permission to marry. Furthermore, "protective custody" is sometimes used to detain women whose lives are deemed at risk from family members, effectively punishing the victim.+1
Gender-Based Violence (GBV): While the Domestic Violence Law exists, implementation is inconsistent. As of 2026, there is still a critical shortage of government-funded shelters for survivors of violence.
4. Refugee Protection and Forcible Return
Jordan hosts one of the world's largest refugee populations per capita, but the environment for these individuals has become increasingly precarious.
Funding Cuts: In 2025 and early 2026, massive international funding shortfalls for agencies like UNRWA and UNHCR led to a spike in poverty among Syrian and Palestinian refugees, with many losing access to food and healthcare subsidies.
Deportation Risks: Human rights groups have documented instances of Syrian refugees being "summarily deported" without due process, particularly following the political shifts in Syria in late 2024.
Labor Restrictions: Non-Syrian refugees (such as Yemenis, Iraqis, and Sudanese) face even stricter barriers to obtaining legal work permits, pushing many into exploitative informal labor.
5. Criminal Justice and Torture
Administrative Detention: Under the Crime Prevention Law, local governors can detain individuals indefinitely without charge or trial. This is frequently used against activists and individuals who have already served their judicial sentences.
Torture Allegations: Reports of ill-treatment and torture in detention centers, particularly during initial interrogations by the GID, persist. Jordan has consistently rejected UN recommendations to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, which would allow for independent inspections of prisons.
Key Legislative Update
In late 2025, Jordan participated in a high-level Human Rights Dialogue with the EU, where the government pledged to review its Cybercrime Law amendments. However, as of February 2026, no significant legislative reversals have occurred.