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Coming together to ensure that rule of law prevails

Oct 03,2018 - Last updated at Oct 03,2018

Indeed, it is of paramount importance now for all Jordanians to come together to ensure that the law applies to all, and to make sure that no persons or parties believe that they are bigger than the country.

Ensuring the rule of law will help us fight many problems facing us, starting with corruption, injustices, unprecedented cases of violence taking place now and then, school bullying, character assassination and many others.

At a meeting with chief editors and media representatives on Monday, His Majesty King Abdullah reiterated that state agencies cannot remain silent, as we are starting to witness new types of violence that were considered alien to our peaceful society.

“One day they cause vandalism at a school, another they evict a university president from his office, and yet another they close a road… Most recently, we witnessed the death of three-year-old child Hashem Kurdi,” the King angrily said at the meeting, in reference to the attack by people taking part in a wedding procession in Mafraq Governorate against an innocent family, which led to the death of the child.

“Enough is enough,” said the King, dressed in a military uniform, at the meeting with media representatives, which followed his visit to Army Headquarters.

All state agencies, he said, have to join forces with the people to ensure that such acts are stopped, once and for all.

He is perfectly right. A small minority cannot impose its will and ill manners on the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Unfortunately, some people who break the law do so because of their belief that their tribes will be protecting them, thus causing harm to the image of the respectable Jordanian tribes. These same tribes helped establish the country almost one century ago, under the main principle of the rule of law, which they have been always safeguarding.

People breaking the law have to be stopped by the tribes that they are offending, as well as by the society as a whole, with all, its agencies, by the force of the law.

“The rule of law” should be the motto of the coming stage to ensure that it applies to all without any exception. It is unfortunate that some people oppose applying the rule of law to relatives in anti-corruption efforts, in appointments, in university admissions and in many other issues despite their repeated calls for justice and equality. Selectivity in applying the law is out of question. This schizophrenic behaviour has to stop. 

To do so, we need a national effort or a strategy to start now, building on the momentum of what the King said, to protect our country from those trying to weaken it from within. It has to be a comprehensive, well-studied, sustainable effort so as to bear fruit.

It should be made clear to all that the country’s leadership, national unity and security are red lines. And in any such effort, freedom of expression that respects the law should be guaranteed and protected.

People making accusations of corruption or mismanagement should come up with evidence to substantiate their charges; and they should be encouraged to do so, and even offered any necessary protection. Efforts to familiarise them with proper channels to voice their complaints should be publicised.

Also dignitaries in Parliament, tribes and official circles should come together to agree on a pact or a code not to offer protection to those breaking the law by any means of jaha — tribal delegation — or any other manner.

There are proper means to express views and make demands, including the media, Parliament and political parties. Work to strengthen the latter should be made, as the King said, to be able to express people’s grievances and demands.

Jordanians, renowned for being peace-loving and law-abiding,  should be supportive of all efforts aimed at keeping their country the safe haven that it is, an oasis of peace and security in our tumultuous region.

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