Fuheis, Mahes residents revive years-long cement factory dispute with protest

AMMAN — Protesting residents from Fuheis and Mahes on Sunday held a demonstration in front of the district’s Court of Cassation over a years-long legal dispute with the Jordan Cement Factories Company.

They said in a statement, of which a copy was obtained by The Jordan Times, that the factories have caused severe environmental damage, which has affected people, animals and plants alike, polluting the water and air, as thousands have suffered from and have been killed by illnesses after exposure to the factories’ by-product pollutants for more than 65 years. According to the statement, the protesters claim to represent thousands of local stakeholders and plaintiffs.

Aside to the environmental damage cited in the statement, the protesters say locals have had to incur unfathomable medical expenses pursuing treatment for their illnesses. The demonstrators demanded compensation and punitive measures to be taken against the company.