12 women debtors released from prison following local campaign

AMMAN — Twelve women debtors have been released from prison this week, following the start of a local campaign to release women debtors from jail before the Holy Month of Ramadan, campaign co-founder Hamzeh Hussami said on Wednesday.

The released women had been imprisoned for failing to repay small debts taken “out of necessity”, he said, noting that the campaign’s first stage deals with women put in jail for debts worth less than JD500, while the second stage will deal with detained and wanted women. 

After the activists succeeded in releasing a woman with a JD355 debt, the case drew their attention to more women jailed for fees amounting to less than JD500 around the Kingdom, Hussami said, adding that many of them have to pay fines as they delay the repaying of their debt.

For some cases, the fine is JD0.25, but for others, it reaches JD0.35 and it can amount to JD1 per day, he told The Jordan Times. 

Many donators from inside and outside Jordan have contacted the campaign organisers to voice their interest in participating and helping to release as many women as possible, so they can celebrate Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr with their families and children.

The campaign reached different governorates and areas, with many youth-led groups taking part in spreading the word and finding information about the debtors. 

The activist noted that campaign members do not receive the money, as they only link the donors to the lawyers and judiciary directories, to ensure the women’s release.

In international agreements, it is prohibited to detain or imprison both parents, Hussami said, adding that it is also prohibited to imprison pregnant women and new mothers, for the safety of their children.

He added that campaign members were shocked to learn that, in most cases, women take loans for their husbands’ projects, but their spouses end up leaving or divorcing them, leaving the women unable to repay the debt.

“Campaign members should not receive anything from the donors, if the donor lives abroad, they can get a family member to pay the debt for them. If anyone claimed to be a campaign member and took money from donors, we should be notified as soon as possible,” Hussami warned.

To donate, campaign organisers can be reached at: 0779725049