No foreign interference in Kingdom’s laws, PM tells deputies

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Sunday refuted claims of foreign interference in drafting the Kingdom’s laws, stressing that all laws are worded independently according to internal needs.

Ensour’s remarks came during Sunday’s Lower House session in response to some MPs who charged that the government’s 2016 amendments to the 2008 Protection against Domestic Violence Law “have been dictated by foreign sides”.

“There was no communication with foreign sides while amending the law,” Ensour said. “The issue of domestic violence has increased to an alarming rate that requires a new approach.”

The session saw a number of lawmakers claiming that the new law was the outcome of foreign interference, while others charged that the new amendments violate the privacy of the Jordanian family.

The premier explained that Article 4 of the law has been rephrased so that providers of health, education and social services in the public and private sectors can report any domestic violence case against women and children they notice. 

“The law stiffens penalties and addresses flaws in the old version,” Ensour told deputies.

The House referred the 2016 amendments to the 2008 Protection against Domestic Violence Law to the joint legal and women committee for review. 

The law, according to its validating reasons, aims at improving protection measures against domestic violence, in addition to providing psychological and family guidance services.