Jordan Times
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Lower House committee censures
HRW report
Rapporteur describes allegations as ‘untrue and illogical in word and spirit’
AMMAN (JT) — The Lower House Public Freedoms and Citizens’ Rights Committee on
Wednesday criticised a report by the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which
claimed arbitrary arrests and abuse of detainees by the General Intelligence
Department (GID).
Jamal Dmour, rapporteur of the committee, said the allegations in the report
were “untrue and illogical in word and spirit.”
He charged that the HRW relied on “suspicious sources” for its information, “who
have the habit of drawing a gloomy image of the state and security services in
return for grants or financial support.”
Dmour said his committee has been regularly visiting detention centres,
especially at the GID, and made sure that all arrests were carried out according
to due procedure, upon warrants issued by prosecutors, and there have been no
signs of physical or psychological torture.
He insisted that the parliamentary committee is the main authority and reference
on freedoms and civil rights in the country, which, he said, fully abides by
human rights principles.
On Tuesday, the HRW urged the government to investigate claims of arbitrary
arrests and abuse of detainees by the GID, charging that many suspects are held
incommunicado but never charged with offences.
“We think Jordan must investigate the allegations of torture. It doesn’t even
need to wait for complaints,” HRW researcher Christoph Wilcke told reporters
during a conference unveiling a 66-page report entitled, “Suspicious Sweeps: The
General Intelligence Department and Jordan’s Rule of Law Problem.”
Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh told The Jordan Times Tuesday that “all the
concerned parties (government and security forces) will study the report
thoroughly” and later respond to the claims made.