Jordanian protesters in Amman march during a demonstration against the government's decision to raise taxes. AFP
Jordanian protesters in Amman march during a demonstration against the government's decision to raise taxes. AFP

Jordan prisoner pardon aims to help families but sparks debate



A proposed royal pardon in Jordan has sparked a debate between lawmakers and the government over who should be given a second chance in the kingdom.

Jordanian lawmakers continued heated deliberations on Sunday over a general pardon drafted by the government on directives of King Abdullah designed to alleviate economic pressures on households that could see thousands of Jordanians released from prison.

The government says the pardon would waive thousands of traffic fines and benefit between 5,000 to 8,000 Jordanians in prison or awaiting trial. Critics however say the draft law is not wide enough and fails to include Jordanians in prison for debt and defaulted loans.

“This is the worst general pardon that has been issued in this country,” says Saleh Armouti, former head of the Jordan Bar Association and the member of parliament leading the push to amend the pardon. “Any pardon that leaves women, children and old men behind bars for financial crimes, debt or expression is not a true pardon and does not serve the interest of the people.”

The draft pardon, which the government provided to MPs last week for approval, includes 25 major exceptions covering 187 crimes deemed unpardonable such as terrorism, treason, murder, narcotics, and financial crimes such as tax evasion and abuse of public funds.

Yet unlike previous pardons, the draft amnesty also does not apply to civil lawsuits such as libel, slander, contract breaches, defaulted loans, bounced cheques and unpaid bills on goods and services such as hospital bills and university tuition.

Several hundred Jordanians are imprisoned and thousands are prosecuted each year for failing to repay loans or issuing bad cheques, activists say. Under the current pardon, plaintiffs – whether individuals, banks or corporations – must put forward a motion to drop charges in order for debtors to be released.

After months of speculation, King Abdullah instructed the government on December 13 to draft a general pardon to “alleviate the challenges and pressures facing citizens.”

In his directive, the King called for “giving citizens who have made mistakes and are going through difficult circumstances an opportunity to correct their course and behaviour.”

According to a statement by the royal court, the pardon aims to “contribute to alleviating the economic burden and difficult conditions citizens are going through.”

The move was met with praise and high expectations from ordinary Jordanians, and remains a hot topic on social media in Jordan. Yet hopes have been dampened since the government unveiled its draft pardon.

Jordanians from across the country filled parliament on Sunday holding court papers to demand MPs amend the pardon to include their relatives. Dozens demanded the king intervene to widen the amnesty.

Even protesters taking part in weekly protests over the economy and corruption were divided.

“I think the pardon issued by his majesty is a sign that people are listening to our demands and taking us seriously,” Mohammed, a 25-year-old unemployed university graduate said during a protest in Amman last Thursday. “All we need is for the government and parliament to live up to his majesty’s directives.”

“This isn’t a general pardon, it is a half-pardon,” said Majed Ghanem, a special education teacher from Jerash, in north Jordan. “There are a lot of Jordanian men and women in prison for bounced checks and unpaid bills who should be released.”

Parliament speaker Atef Tarawneh vowed on Sunday that parliament would not approve an amnesty before resolving the status of Jordanian debtors. Also on Sunday, dozens of MPs signed a memorandum to amend the pardon so that women, those under 18, and men aged 70 and above would be released regardless of their crime.

Lawmakers say they are likely to alter the pardon before sending it to the traditionally conservative king-appointed senate, which may reject an amended pardon, leaving the amnesty in a legislative deadlock.

__________

Read more:

Jordan denies entry for Syrian refugees trapped in Rukban camp

Jordan minister prompts Israeli protests after stepping on flag

Jordanians brave downpour to protest at corruption in Amman

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The pardon would mark the third issued by King Abdullah since his ascension to the throne in 1999. His first pardon issued weeks into his reign in 1999 benefited several thousand citizens; a second amnesty issued amid street protests and Arab Spring unrest in 2011 saw the release of 3,500 prisoners.

The move is aimed to lessen the burden on Jordanian households, who amid a near-record 18.6 per cent unemployment rate have seen government austerity measures scrap bread subsidies, raise taxes on fuel and commodities and lower the threshold for taxable income.

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Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D 
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India

EXPATS
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press

Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.

The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?

My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.

The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.

So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.

 

 

Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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SPEC%20SHEET
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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57%20Seconds
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RESULT

Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds:
 Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')

Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5