US embassy cable - 02AMMAN3620

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2012 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, JO 
SUBJECT: KING PARDONS TOUJAN FAISAL: EFFECT ON HER 
POLITICAL FUTURE UNCLEAR 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 2559 
     B. 3249 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS: 1.5 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  King Abdullah issued a pardon June 26 which 
released Toujan Faisal from detention and vacated the State 
Security Court's decision to sentence her to one and one half 
years in prison (reftels).  Faisal, who had been hospitalized 
due to deteriorating health, was detained for 100 days. 
According to media reports, she is currently convalescing  at 
home.  Whether she will be able to run for parliament or hold 
other offices in light of this pardon is unclear.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
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FAISAL PARDONED FROM SENTENCE, STILL GUILTY OF SEDITION 
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2. (C)  Toujan Faisal was released from the King Hussein 
Medical Center June 27 after being issued an official pardon 
by the King.  Her health is not good, but she is expected to 
recover fully from her hunger strike as well as from breast 
cancer (as reported by local media).  The King has been under 
pressure to pardon the former MP from within the GOJ as well 
as from Jordanian human rights activists and the local 
Circassian community.  Reportedly, PM Abul Ragheb, after 
meeting with Circassian community leaders, sent a letter to 
the King requesting her release.  (Note:  the PM is widely 
believed to have been the main driving force behind Faisal's 
arrest/imprisonment - reftels).  Long-time Embassy contact 
and human rights activist Fawzi Samhoury (protect) explained 
that the pardon is from punishment only, and that Faisal is 
still convicted, by the State Security Court, of the crime of 
sedition against the GOJ.  The limit of the pardon was 
confirmed by a senior GOJ official.  The conviction presents 
a barrier if Faisal attempts either to run for parliament or 
to hold another office; Samhoury explained that Jordanian law 
prohibits people guilty of 'non-political' crimes from 
seeking office.  Note:  'non-political crime' is a term not 
defined by statute or legislation, and if Faisal does seek 
public office she may argue that her conviction was of a 
'political' crime' in an effort to obviate this barrier. 
 
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COMMENT 
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3. (C)   The pardon of Faisal is a politically savvy move by 
the King.  Many Jordanians were hoping for the pardon, 
believing that the former MP, although argumentative and 
offensive to many, was the victim of a political vendetta. 
Where Faisal goes from here is uncertain, but assuming that 
her health recovers, it will be interesting to see what the 
effect of her recent experience in the State Security Court 
will have on her outspoken character.  If there is an avenue 
through which Faisal can run for office legally, she may 
resurface in the Jordanian political scene. 
Gnehm