Deputies insist on excluding tribal gathering places from no-smoking areas

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday returned the amended Public Health Law to the Senate, insisting again on its changes to the bill.

MPs insisted that family and tribal diwans (gathering places) be excluded from the no-smoking places listed in the law, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Deliberating over the law on March 29, senators included the tribal diwans among the places where smoking is prohibited.

Under the law, smoking is prohibited in hospitals, healthcare centres, schools, cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums, public and non-governmental buildings, public transport vehicles, airports, border crossings, stadiums, closed playgrounds, lecture halls, Internet cafés, tourism buildings and any other similar location.

On March 13, the Lower House endorsed the law, stiffening the penalty for smoking in public places. 

Under the new amendments, a prison term from one to three months or a fine no less than JD100 and no more than JD200 will be imposed on those caught smoking cigarettes or any tobacco product in public places.

The government’s version of the law stipulated that any person caught smoking in a public place is subject to between one week and one month imprisonment or a JD15-JD25 fine. 

In the law, a “public place” is defined as the place designated to receive the public or a certain category of people like hospitals and schools.