Lower House refers amended Penal Code to legal committee

AMMAN — The Lower House referred the amended Penal Code to the House Legal Committee during a legislative session on Tuesday.

The referral comes after the Cabinet's approval of the amended law in order to implement the recommendations of the Royal Committee for Developing the Judiciary and Enhancing the Rule of Law.

The amendments to controversial articles 98 and 308 of the Penal Code were also a subject of heated debates between MPs.

Article 98 stipulates that any person who commits a crime in a “fit of fury” caused by an “unlawful or dangerous act” on the part of the victim benefits from a reduction in penalty, while Article 308 allows sexual assault perpetrators to escape punishment if they marry their victims. 

Deputy Wafaa Bani Mustafa (Jerash) said: "Amending the Penal Code is one of the most important issues that we need to discuss, yet we are required to maintain a formula and general principles."

"Although we are witnessing good progress and reform in the Penal Code, on the other hand, we see a contradiction with the general principles," Bani Mustafa added.

Bani Mustafa criticised what she considered a state policy aimed at "collecting" money, by raising the bail money to avoid imprisonment for those sentenced to pay a fine, from JD2 to JD10 for each imprisonment day. 

Balqa deputy Mustafa Yaghi  criticised the amendments, saying they were "alien changes".

"What is the purpose of raising the life sentence from 20 to 30 years? I believe there are huge fallacies and I suggest that the government withdraw the bill and restructure it to fit our traditions, heritage and religion," Yaghi said.

The new bill proposes "raising sentences for demonstrators and picket-liners, acts of hooliganism and car theft". 

Saleh Armouti, representing Amman’s  3rd District, echoed Yaghi’s comments, saying:  "I am sure whoever drafted this bill does not know our principles and traditions."

"This is terrifying. This law will affect freedom of expression and it does not abide by articles 7 and 15 of the Constitution. This bill offends the stability of the society, it also makes Jordanians vulnerable in cases of freedom of speech," Armouti concluded.

Article 7 of the Constitution states that “personal freedom shall be guaranteed”, while Article 15 guarantees freedom of opinion and expression, “within the limits of the law”. 

Deputy Faisal Aawar (Zarqa, 1st District) said "this law gave justice to rape victims with the cancellation of Article 308”, adding that he “also supports raising penalties for car theft".

The Lower House also approved the ratification of the Jordan Electric Power Company (JEPCO) licence law and the settlement agreement between the Jordanian Government and JEPCO. 

 Lower House speaker Atef Tarawneh adjourned the session until next Tuesday.