Human Rights Watch calls on security forces to show ‘restraint’ during protests

AMMAN — Security forces overseeing the mass anti-austerity demonstrations in Amman and several other governorates have occasionally fired tear gas and used force to disperse protesters and block roads, Human Rights Watch claimed on Tuesday.

Thousands of Jordanians have been demonstrating every night since May 31 around the Kingdom calling for the repeal of a income tax  draft bill that proposes to significantly lower the taxable income threshold.

After five days of continuing protests, prime minister Hani Mulki stepped down on Monday, and His Majesty King Abdullah entrusted then-education minister Omar Razzaz of forming a new government.

However, rallies are still ongoing, demanding the repeal of the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Law.

"The protests appear to have largely been peaceful," according to the human rights watchdog, noting however that videos circulating online show incidents of clashes between security forces and protesters, with some members of the Gendarmerie "using force and briefly arresting protesters".

A statement from the NGO said that it had been informed by activists that security forces have detained at least 12 people, adding that although "a court order had ordered the release of four of them, they continue to be arbitrarily detained on orders from Amman's governor".

"As protesters take to the streets to demand economic reform, it's crucial for government security forces to act with restraint and to allow peaceful protesters to freely voice their demands without fear of arbitrary arrest or violence," Sarah Leah Whiston, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, was quoted as saying in the statement.