Jordan Times
Friday, October 1, 2004
No leniency in applying law —
PM
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — Prime Minister Faisal Fayez on Thursday reiterated that the government
will not show leniency in applying the law and will hold accountable any party
that tampers with the nation's principled stands.
Fayez's remarks were made during a noon meeting with representatives of six
parliamentary blocs to discuss last week's measures by the authorities against
Islamist Deputy Mohammad Abu Fares.
Abu Fares was summoned to the Sweileh police station for questioning over a
speech he delivered during a rally and was described by officials as “harmful to
the national interest and ties with friendly countries.”
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Fayez as saying that the government was
open to constructive criticism, but not attacks on national stands. “Nobody is
above the law and those who violate the law will be referred to courts, which
will have the final say on the matter,” he told deputies.
Abu Fares said he refused to accompany the police then and called the prosecutor
general to ask if a subpoena was issued against the deputy. The prosecutor
reportedly said there was no case.
The manner in which the lawmaker was summoned by the police was criticised by
the Islamists and Lower House deputies, who demanded that law violations be
dealt with by the judiciary.
The prime minister stressed that the Islamist movement in Jordan was part of the
political arena and should abide by its national constants. He said measures
taken by the government against Islamists, who violate the law, were not part of
“deliberate targeting, but rather an implementation of the law.”
The recent episode with Abu Fares brought to the surface again claims by the
Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), that
their members were being targeted by the government.
President of the IAF's 17-member bloc in Parliament, Azzam Hneidi, said he
conveyed to Fayez his party's concerns over recent measures taken by the
government against its members.
The premier noted that the government “acts as one body,” saying measures taken
by the Ministry of Interior against violators of the law was “directly
coordinated with the prime minister to ensure higher national interests are
preserved.”
Hneidi, who reiterated the IAF's loyalty and keenness to preserve national
security and unity, said the deputies called on the prime minister to ensure
that the “law is applied on all.” Representatives of the Parliament's six blocs
denounced attempts to tarnish the Kingdom's national institutions or harm them.
“Both sides agreed that nobody was above the law and that any violations should
be dealt with by the judiciary rather than the executive authority,” said an
official source. He explained that law violators would no longer be summoned by
the police, but rather taken up by the prosecutor general.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Political Development and Parliamentary
Affairs Mohammad Daoudiyeh, and Minister of Interior Samir Habashneh. Deputies
attending the meeting included Deputy House Speaker Thaher Fawaz, Hneidi,
President of the National Democratic Bloc Abdul Karim Dughmi, President of the
Democratic Coalition Bloc Mamdouh Abaddi, President of the National Front Bloc
Mahmoud Mheidat, President of Al Watan Bloc Abdul Jalil Maaytah and President of
the National Action Front Bloc Suleiman Abu Gheith.