Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
'Jordan won't ban Iraqi poll ads'
AMMAN — The government will not ban Iraqi election campaign advertisements as called for by the Lower House of Parliament, a senior official said on Monday.
“The Jordanian media market is a free market and as long as no one breaks any laws we, legally, cannot prevent anyone from running ads for the Iraqi elections,” Government Spokesperson Asma Khader told her weekly press conference yesterday.
Deputies last week signed a non-binding petition calling on the government to ban all forms of advertising for the Iraqi elections.
“We appreciate the House's motives, which are mainly political, but the government views the Iraqi elections as a step in the direction of regaining Iraq's sovereignty,” said Khader, also minister of culture. She also said Jordan cannot prevent Iraqi citizens living in the Kingdom from voting in the January 30 elections, adding that “it is in Jordan's best interest to see as many Iraqis take part in the upcoming democratic process.”
“The Iraqi interim government is recognised by the UN Security Council as a legitimate body, and banning Iraqi expats from participating in the elections could cause a political crisis,” Khader said.