House committee, FM discuss Jordanian detainees abroad

AMMAN — Head of the Lower House’s Public Freedoms and Human Rights Committee MP Awad Zawaideh on Monday stressed the importance of continued follow-up on the affairs of Jordanians abroad. 

Zawaideh made his remarks during a meeting with Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, called for by the committee upon the request of MPs to discuss the issue of Jordanians arrested in foreign countries, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The MP urged the swift release of Jordanian detainees across the globe, in particular, Abdulrahman Meri and Heba Labadi, who are currently being held in Israel.

For their part, Members of the Public Freedoms and Human Rights Committee stressed the importance of constant follow-up on the cases of Jordanians arrested abroad, working towards their release and guaranteeing fair trial. 

Safadi noted that the Foreign Ministry, under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, is checking up on the affairs of Jordanian nationals abroad and provides them with necessary support. 

He pointed out that the ministry has set time-bound measures to complete providing consulate services, in coordination with the relevant ministries and national institutions. 

The foreign minister said the ministry is in the process of digitising its services. 

With regards to the arrests of Meri and Labadi, Safadi underlined that the ministry is “sparing no effort” to ensure their release, adding that it has summoned the Israeli ambassador twice and requested the citizens’ release. 

The Foreign Ministry on October 6 summoned the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires in the Kingdom to protest against the continued detention of Labadi and Meri.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Sufian Qudah, said that a letter was handed over to the Israeli envoy, demanding the immediate release of the Jordanian detainees and that they receive decent treatment. 

Qudah said that the Israeli government was asked in the letter to adhere to international law and human rights conventions, holding Israeli authorities accountable for the safety of the detained Jordanians. 

In September, the Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Israeli ambassador to Jordan and called for the immediate release of Labadi and Meri, who were detained by Israeli authorities after crossing the King Hussein Bridge.