From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: JORDAN: AI groups registered!
Date: 11 Oct 92 14:59:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700615:000:4109
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Oct 11 07:59:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: JORDAN: AI groups registered!

/* Written 10:18 pm  Oct 10, 1992 by aiusala@igc.apc.org in igc:ai.general */
Amnesty International
International Secretariat
1 Easton Street
London WC1X 8DJ
United Kingdom

DATE: 2 OCTOBER 1992

JORDAN: GOVERNMENT GRANTS LEGAL REGISTRATION TO AI
GROUPS AND REITERATES COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

     The government of Jordan granted legal registration to
Amnesty International's membership in the country during a
visit by the organization's Secretary General, Ian Martin.
In the course of the visit, the Amnesty International
delegation was received by King Hussein Bin Talal, and
reiterated its commitment to human rights protection.

      Ian Martin, accompanied by three members of the
organization's International Secretariat, visited Jordan
between 24 September and 1 October 1992.  He visited Amnesty
International's groups in Amman and Irbid and attended a
number of events organized by them, including a children's
meeting on the rights of the child, held under the auspices
of Queen Noor Al-Hussein, who attended its opening session.

      Ian Martin was received by King Hussein Bin Talal and
Crown Prince Hassan Bin Talal and held discussions with the
Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Education, the Minister of Higher Education, the speakers of
the Upper and Lower House of Parliament and the Director
General of the Public Security Directorate (PSD).  Members
of the Amnesty International delegation also met the Deputy
Director for Administrative affairs at the General
Intelligence Department and observed the opening sessions of
a State Security Court trial of two Members of Parliament
and two others.

      Amnesty International's membership in Jordan, to which
legal registration has been issued, comprises some 250
members  in several parts of the country organized in 18
groups.  Legal registration in Jordan follows that granted
elsewhere in the Arab world to Amnesty International's
membership in Tunisia, Algeria and Sudan (before the change
in government led to the dissolution of Amnesty
International and other organizations in that country).
Amnesty International groups in Egypt are currently awaiting
the granting of their application to be legally registered.

      The Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Higher
Education and the PSD General Director expressed the
intention to further incorporate human rights eduction in
the curriculum at all levels of education and into the
training of PSD officers.

      In addition to the activities of Amnesty
International's membership in Jordan, Ian Martin discussed
with Jordanian officials human rights promotion and
protection in the Arab world and in Jordan.  Amnesty
International welcomed King Hussein's calls for an Arab
Human Rights Charter, which the organization believes should
fully reflect existing international standards.  It also
welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency earlier in
1992 and other human rights initiatives such as the repeal
of legislation which led to the imprisonment of prisoners of
conscience and the accession by Jordan to the United Nations
Convention Against Torture.

      At the same time Amnesty International stressed the
need for further human rights progress, particularly
strengthening safeguards against ill- treatment and to
ensure fair trial for political detainees -- such as prompt
access to lawyers and family, the introduction of the right
of appeal before the State Security Court, and an end to all
executions.  Amnesty International expressed the hope that
Jordan would ratify the Optional Protocol to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

      In the current case before the State Security Court
four defendants, including two Members of Parliament, are
being tried on charges including membership of an illegal,
violent organization and possession of weapons and
explosives.  Some of the charges refer to capital offences.
Amnesty International will continue to monitor the trial
proceedings which are expected to last several weeks.