Jordanians rally to protest price hike, defense law

By Laith al-Junidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) – Hundreds of Jordanians on Friday rallied against fuel price hikes and the continuation of a controversial defense law in the country.

The protesters gathered in the capital Amman's Grand Husseini Mosque and marched towards Nakheel Square after performing the Friday prayers.

Security forces were deployed in the vicinity of the mosque and Nakheel Square to prevent more people from joining the protest.

Recently, a number of political parties called for a protest to reject the defense law and a rise in the prices of fuel and daily commodities.

In 2019, Jordan passed legislation by a royal decree at the request of the Cabinet to confront coronavirus.

Article 124 of the Jordanian constitution states: “In the event of an emergency necessitating the defense of the Kingdom, a law, which shall be known as the Defense Law, shall be enacted giving power to the person specified therein to take such actions and measures as may be necessary, including the suspension of the operation of the ordinary laws of the state, with a view to ensuring the defense of the Kingdom.”

It is an emergency law that gives broad, unrestricted and unwritten powers to the prime minister.

*Writing by Bassel Barakat in Ankara