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AMMAN — After surviving a mass shooting in Deir Ezzor in Syria, refugee Nasr Obaid escaped the scourge of war and found a “new life, a new home, and a new family” at the Princess Basma Community Development Centre in Amman.

Obaid, who now works with the UNHCR-supported Community Support Committees (CSCs) at the centre, said that “joining the committee polished my personality and sharpened my skills”, adding “now, I am happy to provide help and support to other refugees as well”.

The UNHCR and the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development on Monday officially inaugurated a new inclusive community centre located inside Princess Basma Community Development Centre in Amman’s Jabal Al Nuzha neighbourhood. 

Launched under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma, the new centre will provide Jordanians and refugees of all nationalities with various activities and a space to come together to exchange safely as well as to facilitate the refugees’ communication with the UNHCR to receive assistance and legal services.

“This centre is a small prototype of a wider vision that does not only address the humanitarian needs of people, but also their talents, cultures, spirit of giving, coexistence and the exchange of experiences,” Princess Basma said at the event.

“We seek to inspire others in adopting this approach nationally and globally, as this interaction among people from various backgrounds is a great example that we should all follow,” HRH, who is the president of the Goodwill Campaign’s higher committee, added.

UNHCR representative in Jordan Stefano Severe welcomed the initiative, saying “moving to a model of an inclusive centre that involves Jordanians, as well as refugees of different nationalities, can be a powerful tool, not only to promote peaceful coexistence between refugees and the host community, but also between the different refugee groups themselves”.

“This creates a positive atmosphere and a better protection environment for all, in line with UNHCR’s One Refugee approach,” Severe highlighted.

During the inauguration ceremony, Princess Basma, Severe and other officials toured the new centre where they talked with the staff and volunteers who briefed them on the centre’s role and activities.

They also toured the centre’s hall where refugee representatives from Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen showcased their countries’ cuisines dressed in their traditional outfits.

Princess Basma then chatted with the elderly beneficiaries of the centre, who shared their thoughts and concerns. “The gatherings and the talk sessions with the support committee are truly relieving and soothing,” one of the elderly told the princess, describing the centre’s officials as “angels, not humans”.

Najwa Bdour, director of Princess Basma Community Development Centre, noted that 17 members “full of passion and ambition” worked on translating the idea of the project into reality.

She spoke of the various aspects of the new centre, which include offering various daily activities for refugees in a way that is tailored to the needs of women, children, youth, people with disabilities and older groups, noting that the centre was rehabilitated with some new rooms where the UNHCR will be able to provide services directly to the beneficiaries.

Prior to the official launch, the director said that 3,334 refugees benefitted from the 65 activities organised during the first 8 months of the project.

Jordan is home to 750,000 refugees from nearly 60 nationalities, most of them are Syrians, but there are also sizeable populations of Iraqis, Yemenis, Sudanese and Somalis, amongst others, a statement by the UNHCR said, adding that the CSCs in Jordan provide a “novel and community-led approach” to respond to the needs of urban refugees, bridging gaps between refugees and Jordanians.

It also helps the refugee agency to give the right assistance to those who need it the most, the statement concluded. 

AMMAN — The National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) on Monday signed a plan of action with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to cooperate on the evaluation of the family counselling centres operating in Balqa, Irbid, Ajloun, Karak, Mafraq and Aqaba. 

“Our role in the plan of action entails assessing the capacities of the centres in reaching their objectives, in addition to strengthening the skills of the staff and their outreach coordination with other actors,” UNFPA Representative in Jordan Laila Baker told The Jordan Times. 

“After assessing what the centres have on the ground, we will elaborate our recommendations and support the institutions to go forward with them,” Baker added, noting that “the NCFA and their centres are part of a larger strategy in support of family counselling within the community, which involves the Family Protection Department and other entities with a role in this matter”.

For his part, NCFA Acting Secretary General Mohammad Miqdadi said that “evaluating the quality of services provided in the centres will help us to identify the existing gaps in the service provision, and to outline some recommendations to overcome the existing challenges”.

Miqdadi explained that the NCFA started installing the centres in areas that lacked counselling resources in order to ensure that such services reach all families, women and children, adding that the centres were established in cooperation with national civil society institutions and associations with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV). 

Since 2010, the council has inaugurated a total of 11 centres in the municipalities of Balqa, Irbid, Ajloun, Karak, Mafraq and Aqaba.

“They have been doing a very good job in coordination with a number of national bodies looking to support individuals and families in reducing the level of distress and violence in their lives,” Baker said about the NCFA, expressing hopes to “keep on working with them along with the Family Protection Department, the ministries of development and health and the police”.

“The overall plan of action is to offer that support nationwide, providing individuals with a place they can reach out to if they need information or any kind of support in cases such as domestic violence,” the official noted, adding that “having family counselling centres also helps in raising awareness within the community and preventing GBV cases”. 

AMMAN — Security forces overseeing the mass anti-austerity demonstrations in Amman and several other governorates have occasionally fired tear gas and used force to disperse protesters and block roads, Human Rights Watch claimed on Tuesday.

Thousands of Jordanians have been demonstrating every night since May 31 around the Kingdom calling for the repeal of a income tax  draft bill that proposes to significantly lower the taxable income threshold.

After five days of continuing protests, prime minister Hani Mulki stepped down on Monday, and His Majesty King Abdullah entrusted then-education minister Omar Razzaz of forming a new government.

However, rallies are still ongoing, demanding the repeal of the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Law.

"The protests appear to have largely been peaceful," according to the human rights watchdog, noting however that videos circulating online show incidents of clashes between security forces and protesters, with some members of the Gendarmerie "using force and briefly arresting protesters".

A statement from the NGO said that it had been informed by activists that security forces have detained at least 12 people, adding that although "a court order had ordered the release of four of them, they continue to be arbitrarily detained on orders from Amman's governor".

"As protesters take to the streets to demand economic reform, it's crucial for government security forces to act with restraint and to allow peaceful protesters to freely voice their demands without fear of arbitrary arrest or violence," Sarah Leah Whiston, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, was quoted as saying in the statement.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a December Irbid court ruling sentencing a minor to serve five years at a juvenile correctional and rehabilitation centre after convicting him of murdering his friend in Irbid in January 2016.

The court declared the defendant guilty of stabbing the victim on January 14 following a heated argument and sentenced him to five years in a juvenile centre.

Six days after the stabbing incident, the victim died as a result of the wounds he had sustained, the court stated.

Court documents said that the defendant was sitting with his friends outside his home and spotted the victim walking nearby.

“The defendant called on the suspect and they started arguing over an old feud. The defendant then drew a switchblade and stabbed the victim repeatedly with it,” the court said, adding that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died a few days later from 8 stab wounds sustained to vital organs.

The defendant contested the court ruling through his lawyer, claiming that he was defending himself when he stabbed the victim.

However, the higher court ruled that the ruling was accurate and the defendant deserves the verdict he received.

“The defendant confessed to the murder and it was evident that he planned well for it by preparing the weapon and waiting for the right time to commit the murder,” the Court of Cassation said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Mohammad Ibrahim, Naji Zubi, Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat and Majid Azab.

AMMAN — Some 117 saving and credit groups and associations were formed within the framework of the “Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project”, which is managed by Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) since its establishment in 2015 and in cooperation with the Jordan River Foundation (JRF).

About 1,361 people participated in these groups, about 60 per cent of whom were women, while their total savings amounted to JD219,000, according to JEDCO statement.

JEDCO CEO Omar Qaryouti said that the project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development for six years (2015-2021) in partnership with the National Centre for Agricultural Research, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation, the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruits and Vegetables, JRF, the Central Bank of Jordan and several microfinance institutions.

Qaryouti added that the project’s objectives are to improve access to funding across rural areas through technical and competitive capacity building for small-scale farmers, rural women and youth, small- and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, integration of small-scale farmers in value chains and employment in rural areas for youth and women.

He explained that a training programme was completed for all participants in the formation of savings and credit groups, equivalent to 200 hours of training, in which 1,066 people participated, including 640 females and 426 males from different targeted governorates.

A total of 255 ideas for productive agricultural projects were developed through these groups, which had a positive impact on the initiation of small projects focussed on improving the living standards of farmers in the targeted areas.

JEDCO recently signed agreements to grant support to productive agricultural projects for saving and credit groups and associations and the grants amounted to a total value of $250,000.

AMMAN — The Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Monday night announced the names of the winning journalists in the King Hussein Award for Excellence in Journalism for articles published in 2017.

Samah Beibars won the award for best investigative report and Ali Mohammad Yousef won best news article prize, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported, citing a JPA statement.

Amani Saeh and Sami Harbi shared the prize for best news story, while Yaseen Khalil won the best report on Jerusalem and Ahmad Abdoh won a prize for the best photograph.

AMMAN — Governor of Mafraq Hasan Al Qeyam inspected a number of Royal Initiative projects, in addition to a solar energy project to supply electricity for schools and a housing project of underprivileged families, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Qeyam explained that these projects, which came under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, aim to serve the education sector, reduce its the electricity bill in the governorate and invest in the field of solar energy.

The project would reduce the monthly electricity bill to zero, according to Petra. The director of the government buildings, Abdulaziz Diabat, said that 65 per cent of the housing project of the underprivileged families in Mafraq, which includes 19 units, has been completed so far, while the construction of housing units in each of Rehab, Bilma, Ruwaished and Manshiyat Al Ghayath has concluded, noting that the total cost of the housing units in all four areas reached JD1.6 million.

AMMAN — Criminal Investigation Department (CID) personnel on Tuesday arrested three suspects for allegedly stealing a number of vehicles, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. After raiding an apartment in the south of Amman, the personnel arrested the suspects and confiscated two stolen cars.

After searching the apartment, CID agents found documents that belong to stolen vehicles and tools that the suspects have used for the purpose of stealing cars. The three suspects confessed to stealing 13 vehicles and burning some, in collaboration with four other suspects who remain at large, according to Petra.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday entrusted Omar Razzaz with forming a new government, succeeding that of Hani Mulki, who resigned on Monday.

In the letter of designation, King Abdullah directed Razzaz and his yet-to-be-formed team to launch a comprehensive national reform scheme that seeks to “empower the Jordanian people” and enable them to realise their potential and meet their needs and demands.

King Abdullah said the key challenge facing Jordan is the slow economic growth.

The government's priority, His Majesty said, is to stimulate economic growth, enhance the country’s competitiveness and create jobs for the youth.

King Abdullah instructed the government to immediately launch a dialogue about the income tax draft law in coordination with the Parliament, the political parties, the professional associations and the civil society organisations.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday accepted the resignation of Hani Mulki’s Cabinet.

King Abdullah sent a letter to Mulki in reply to his letter of resignation.

Following is the official English translation of His Majesty’s letter:

“Your Excellency Dr Hani Mulki,

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you,

I am pleased to convey to you and your colleague ministers my greetings and appreciation for your efforts in serving our beloved Jordan.

I have received your letter of resignation as prime minister, in which you expressed deep loyalty to the homeland, and your commitment to upholding your responsibilities and duties.

I express my deep appreciation to you and your Cabinet colleagues for your dedication and commitment to your duties and responsibilities, bravely taking difficult decisions that were not popular but were in the higher interest of the nation. You have endured a tremendous burden for the sake of the homeland and citizens, especially amidst these difficult conditions, which have brought major challenges before us all.

The challenges surrounding our beloved Jordan are unprecedented in their complexity, multitude, and sprawling impact. They include regional challenges directly at our borders, and extend well beyond them. 

This nation has never shied away from resolutely and persistently taking on challenges at the political, security, social, and economic levels. Therefore, we have become a model and an example of stability, integrity, and moderation, maintaining strong and balanced Arab, Islamic, and international relations without falling into unacceptable, polarised alliances.

However, unrelenting developments over several years have directly impacted economic and fiscal conditions, leading to increasing pressure on the Treasury and the commercial and investment sectors, which have affected growth rates. With the state forced to increase spending to shoulder responsibilities on behalf of the international community, our Treasury and citizens have suffered from funding shortfalls and hikes in the prices of many items and basic commodities. This has had a direct impact on citizens’ standards of living and their livelihoods. These developments came in parallel to a sharp drop in [foreign] aid, which had previously enabled our country to ensure regional security and serve brotherly refugees who have fled to this free, brave land.

You, along with your ministerial team, have exerted your utmost efforts to counter the accumulating financial deficits by persistently pressing ahead with comprehensive reform and seeking alternatives. The situation remains critical and requires everyone’s awareness and caution.

As I accept your and your Cabinet’s resignations, I entrust this government to continue as caretaker until a new Cabinet is formed. And I reaffirm my appreciation of you and your fellow ministers for all your efforts in service of your homeland. You will always be worthy of our trust and held in the highest esteem. I pray that God Almighty protects you all and justly rewards you for your efforts.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you

In his resignation letter, Mulki outlined his government’s achievements since his designation as prime minister in May 2016, stressing that the government put national interests above all else.

The outgoing premier listed the parliamentary, governorate council, and municipal elections as major political reform steps overseen by his government, highlighting measures to combat corruption and enhance the public sector as efforts towards administrative reform.

Mulki said his government also worked to improve public services and infrastructure, while bolstering the social safety net.

He pointed to the economic and fiscal correction programme overseen by his government, which improved the economy and stabilised the debt’s ratio to the gross domestic product, also citing efforts to stimulate economic growth.

Mulki noted that the income tax draft law his Cabinet sent to Parliament is based on a progressive formula that ensures fair taxation and combats evasion while protecting the middle class and lower income brackets.

However, the draft law was not met with public approval, the outgoing prime minister said in his resignation letter, expressing respect for all opinions voiced responsibly by Jordanians.

Out of commitment to the nation’s interest, Mulki said he has tendered his resignation.

Protests continue

The resignation came amid nationwide protests that have been ongoing since Thursday, following a strike led by the professional associations.

Protesters gathered near the Prime Ministry despite the resignation of the government. They raised demands to revisit the Sales Tax Law, reduce fuel prices and electricity, reinstal bread subsidy, hold trials for the corrupt, withdraw the income tax bill and form a “national salvation government”.

President of the Professional Associations Council Ali Obous was quoted in local reports as saying that the planned second strike on Wednesday is linked to cancelling the amended income tax draft law, adding that the council will meet before the set date to take a final decision, depending on developments. 

Despite wide speculations that outgoing Minister of Education Omar Razzaz would replace Mulki, officials did not confirm the reports.