‘Alquds Alarabi daily’s suspension due to expired printing permit’

AMMAN — The “big fuss” Alquds Alarabi newspaper made over the suspension of its publication in Jordan was “uncalled for” as it only needs to renew the permit to resume printing, an official said on Monday. 

“The whole story is that the publication permit granted to the newspaper to publish a printed version in Amman has expired. It needs to be renewed and then they can resume printing,” Jordan Media Commission (JMC) Director General Amjad Qadi told The Jordan Times.

In a statement published on its website, Alquds Alarabi said it received the decision to suspend its publication in Jordan with “shock and surprise”, accusing unnamed parties of targeting its freedom.

Alquds Alarabi also claimed that it received no official notification prior to the suspension decision, describing it as “martial, arbitrary and unlawful”.

However, Qadi said Alquds Alarabi’s claims are “simply untrue”.

Qadi added that the JMC has contacted the newspaper to submit a new publication request to be then approved but “they have not done so yet.”

“They [the newspaper’s editorial team] wants to make a fake cause for the newspaper,” he charged.

Alquds Alarabi was allowed under the law to print and publish in Jordan but it “violated the Press and Publications Law” and so its publication was suspended as of November 29 until it rectifies its status.