MPs urge gov't to follow up on case of detained journalist

AMMAN — MPs on Tuesday called on the government to follow up on the case of journalist Tayseer Al Najjar, who is reportedly detained in the UAE.

In a memorandum they submitted to the Lower House's secretariat, 52 lawmakers called on the government to contact the UAE to "uncover the fate of Najjar", Al Rai daily reported. 

The signatories said security bodies in Abu Dhabi summoned Najjar in December on his way back to Jordan, claiming that the detained journalist's family knows nothing about his fate, according to Al Rai. 

The Jordan Press Association (JPA) said last Tuesday that it is following up on the detention of Najjar with the Emirati and Jordanian sides.

JPA President Tareq Momani told The Jordan Times that he has recently spoken with the Emiratis about the issue of Najjar.

Momani said the syndicate received information that the journalist was detained at the airport in Dubai as he was heading back to Amman recently.

He said he has sent an official letter to the UAE Journalists Association to follow up on the issue.

“We have not received a response yet from the UAE association, and we are exerting our utmost efforts in this regard to check on his situation and identify his whereabouts,” Momani added.

“The JPA also contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman, which pledged to look into the issue,” he said.