AMMAN — The Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) on Saturday called for the release of journalists and employees of an Iraqi TV channel who were arrested last week.
Last Monday, authorities raided the station and arrested Iraqi, Jordanian and Syrian journalists, after Baghdad accused it of “inciting terrorism and sectarian conflicts”.
The State Security Court (SSC) prosecutors charged the owner and 13 journalists of Al-Abasiya satellite station with using the Internet to carry out acts that would expose Jordanians to acts of aggression.
In a statement, CDFJ President Nidal Mansour said the centre “does not understand how journalists who violated licensing regulations can be referred to the SSC”, adding that they should have been referred to a regular court.