Cabinet approves draft general pardon law 2024

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday approved the draft general pardon law 2024, which is now set to be presented before the Parliament for further deliberation, following constitutional procedures.

This initiative comes in implementation of the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah. The government said it had prioritised the drafting of this bill, marking it as urgent, to commemorate the King’s Silver Jubilee, which marks the 25th year of his reign, as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The government said that the draft law prioritises the public interest safeguards personal and civil rights, and upholds the principles of justice and the rule of law. It also paves the way for rehabilitation opportunities for individuals involved in certain crimes, offering them a chance for societal reintegration.

In a press conference following the Cabinet session, Justice Minister Ahmad Ziadat said that the draft law will include releasing 7,355 inmates at rehabilitation centres, 4,688 people convicted of misdemeanours and 2,667 convicted with drug-related cases.

Ziadat stressed that the law will include all crimes that happened before March 19, 2024, cases currently examined before courts and traffic fines, Petra added.

The Cabinet also approved the implementation of an e-learning system across educational institutions by 2024, aiming at integrating e-learning methodologies into the educational framework, ensuring uninterrupted education in exceptional circumstances, and leveraging technology to enhance educational practices.

The Council of Ministers also gave the green light to the scholarship system for children of teachers working at the Ministry of Education for 2024. This initiative is designed to motivate students from teachers’ families to pursue professional and technical disciplines, thereby supporting their educational and career progression.

The National Tobacco and Smoking Control Strategy for the years 2024 - 2030, along with the derived National Action Plan for the years 2024 - 2026, was also approved. The strategy is aimed at reducing smoking and shielding society from the detrimental effects of all forms of tobacco.