US embassy cable - 02AMMAN5576

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005576 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2012 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, JO 
SUBJECT: GOJ MOVES TO DISSOLVE THE JORDANIAN SOCIETY FOR 
CITIZENS' RIGHTS; FOUNDER WANTS TO WORK WITH GOJ TO AVOID 
CLOSURE. 
 
REF: AMMAN 03620 
 
1.(C) SUMMARY.  On September 19, Dr. Fawzi Samhoury, 
President of the Jordanian Society for Citizens' Rights 
(JSCR), contacted Poloff to report that the Ministry of the 
Interior informed him it had decided to "dissolve" the JSCR 
within 30 days.  The GOJ contended in a letter to Samhoury 
that the JSCR had refused to allow an inspection of its 
financial records in each of the last three years. 
Subsequently, local media coverage has reported that former 
members of the JSCR have filed complaints against Samhoury 
alleging, among other things, financial negligence.  On 
September 24, PolCouns met with Nancy Bakir, Human Rights 
Advisor for the Prime Ministry, and urged that the GOJ find 
ways short of dissolution to address its concerns with the 
JSCR, noting that precipitous action would appear to be 
harassment.  Samhoury would like to work quietly with GOJ to 
avoid closure.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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BACKGROUND ON THE JSCR 
---------------------- 
 
2. (C)  Dr. Fawzi Samhoury is a Palestinian-Jordanian dentist 
living in Amman.  In 1998, he founded the JSCR and registered 
it with the Ministry of the Interior.  Since its inception, 
the JSCR has held meetings, organized conferences, written 
reports, and issued statements regarding human rights issues 
without any significant interference from the GOJ.  Unlike 
some other human rights groups here, the JSCR is not 
affiliated with a political movement and is independent of 
the GOJ.  Samhoury is currently the embassy's most reliable 
and trustworthy human rights contact. 
 
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MINISTER OF INTERIOR 
ISSUES LETTER "DISSOLVING" JSCR 
------------------------------ 
 
3. (C)  On September 19, Samhoury received a letter signed by 
Minister of the Interior Qaftar Majali, which ordered the 
JSCR to be dissolved "30 days from the issuance of this 
letter."  In a September 23 meeting with Poloff, Samhoury 
said that the IntMin contends that the JSCR is in violation 
of the Charity and Societies Law of 1966, which requires 
certain societies to allow the GOJ to inspect their offices 
and to submit financial records.  Samhoury argues that a) 
because the JSCR is classified as a "normal society", it is 
not subject to the provisions cited in Majali's letter and 
that b) the GOJ has never asked for such information before, 
and therefore he should be given adequate notice and a chance 
to comply before such punitive measures are implemented. 
Samhoury reported that Majali had called Samhoury to his 
office in July and "was very rude and disrespectful." 
According to Samhoury, Majali questioned Samhoury on several 
issues, including JSCR's support of Toujan Faisal (reftel), 
and JSCR's reporting on Palestinians who have been "stripped" 
of their passports through the GOJ's implementation of 
disengagement laws. Now, Samhoury said, "he just wants us to 
be finished." 
 
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HERE COMES THE SMEAR 
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4. (C)  Samhoury told Poloff on September 23 that he had 
spoken informally with local reporters, who informed him that 
the GOJ was going to orchestrate a smear campaign against 
him.  (Note:  During this meeting at a local cafe, it was 
clear that Samhoury was under surveillance).  Samhoury 
appeared calm and patient, but is very upset with the action 
by the IntMin.  Poloff told Samhoury to be patient, and to 
work with his lawyers and fellow human rights advocates to 
find a just solution. 
 
5. (C)  Local press has reported that the GOJ has received 
complaints from four former members of the JSCR, who are 
accusing Samhoury of financial negligence (i.e. failing to 
report money collected from unnamed sources).  Samhoury told 
Poloff that a) these accusations are false; b) Samhoury was 
never notified of any complaints, either by the complaining 
members or the GOJ; and c) the GOJ letter notifying Samhoury 
that the JSCR was going to be "dissolved" never mentioned 
these complaints, although press reports indicate the 
complaints were filed June 17.  In addition, local press 
reports the GOJ has also accused Samhoury and the JSCR of 
unlawful involvement in "regional" issues (i.e. stoking 
Palestinian/Jordanian sensitivities).  Samhoury told Poloff 
that this is untrue.  "I never conclude in any of my reports 
that the government is biased against the Palestinians, but 
my research indicates that most of the human rights 
violations here occur against Palestinians.  Reporting the 
facts does not make me guilty of damaging relations between 
Palestinians and East Bankers," he said. 
-------------------------------------------- 
EMBASSY EXPRESSES CONCERN TO THE PM'S OFFICE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) On September 24, PolCouns and Poloff met with Nancy 
Bakir, Human Rights Advisor at the Prime Ministry, to convey 
serious USG concern over the plan to dissolve the JSCR and 
urge the GOJ to find a less confrontational way to address 
its concerns about the JSCR.  PolCouns cautioned against any 
unwarranted action against an independent human rights 
organization.  Bakir clearly took the point, and said that 
Samhoury was a personal friend.  She said that she would send 
a memorandum to the Prime Minister and IntMin about the 
matter.  Perhaps, she said, someone in the GOJ is mad at 
Samhoury, but if this is the case then it should be a matter 
resolved easily. 
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LOCAL ACTIVISTS CIRCLE WAGONS 
AROUND SAMHOURY 
------------------------------- 
 
7. (C)  On the evening of September 24, a group of local 
activists held a meeting of support for Samhoury and the 
JSCR.  Samhoury told Poloff that the most vocal supporter at 
the meeting was the controversial former MP Toujan Faisal 
(reftel).  Many of the group signed a letter to the IntMin 
requesting that he reconsider his decision to "dissolve" the 
society.  In general, Samhoury's supporters are taking the 
position that the allegations by the IntMin can be resolved 
within the society through their rules/bylaws and that there 
is no need for the GOJ to shut Samhoury's group down. 
 
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COMMENT 
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8. (C)  The JSCR is one of only a few independent human 
rights organizations in Jordan and until now, has been 
allowed to do its work unfettered.  Post believes Samhoury is 
a genuine human rights activist, objective in his reporting, 
and is without a doubt supportive of Jordan and the Regime. 
For now he has decided to remain patient and to try to work 
with the GOJ to resolve the matter. 
 
GNEHM