Sister of Jordanian singer detained ‘over video posted on social media’

AMMAN — Police on Saturday said a popular social media activist was arrested over the weekend while returning to Jordan via the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) upon orders by the prosecutor.

“We detained Zain Karazon late Thursday night at QAIA on orders by the prosecutor and referred her to the judiciary for further investigation,” Public Security Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

Media outlets said Karazon was ordered detained for one week at a women’s correctional and rehabilitation centre on slander charges.

Several media outlets and social media users claimed that Karazon was detained because she reportedly “offended Jordanians via various social media channels by posting a video in which she responded to her critics in an inappropriate manner”.

However, her sister, Diana Karazon, who is a Jordanian singer and winner of regional talent show Superstar for the year 2003, criticised what she described as “the fierce attack” against her sister through social media and some journalists. 

“My sister was arrested because she exposed an incident of malpractice at a hospital and not because of anything else,” Diana claimed.

Her remarks came in a statement published by “saheh khabarak” (or correct your news) website (www.sahehkhabarak.com).

The singer said her sister’s case was “being exaggerated” and that “some reporters spread wrongful news” that harmed her “honour and reputation”, in addition to circulating details “that were not true”.

“If people disagree with my sister, they don’t have to follow her or curse her. They can simply stop following her [on social media],” Diana added.