By Khetam Malkawi

AMMAN - Newspaper reporters on Tuesday decried a decision, reportedly taken by Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali, to limit their access to Parliament.

According to House sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Majali issued directives on Monday restricting the entry of journalists into Parliament and forbidding them from going to the offices of secretariat employees and deputies.

“If this decision is implemented, it will harm the reputation of the House and limit access to information,” Al Ghad reporter Jihad Mansi told The Jordan Times yesterday, adding that the decision is not acceptable.

“I do not think this is the right time for the House to make such a serious and unprecedented decision, which will restrict press freedom in particular and public freedoms in general,” noted Mansi, who covers Parliament news for the Arabic daily.

But House Media Adviser Hamdan Hajj told reporters the speaker only seeks to regulate journalists’ access to Parliament.

He added that during a regular secretariat meeting on Monday, Majali asked him to discuss the matter with reporters.

“If the decision is implemented, it will facilitate journalists’ missions and their access to information and deputies,” Hajj said, adding that the Chamber of Deputies will be always open for committed press personnel and members of the Jordan Press Association.