Jordanian authorities have ordered the closure of the “Al-Yarmouk” channel, associated with the Islamic Action Front party, for operating without official licenses and permits.
Bashir Momani, Director-General of the Jordanian Media Commission, stated that the commission lodged a complaint last week with the Attorney General of Amman against the Al-Yarmouk Channel Company for violating the Audiovisual Media Law by broadcasting without a license.
The Attorney General decided to seize the devices used in broadcasting without a license as part of the evidence in the case.
Momani explained that the commission had previously filed several complaints on this matter, including a general amnesty.
The latest decision came from the highest judicial body in Jordan (the Court of Cassation) in a written order, considering the channel’s actions as broadcasting without a license, according to the official Jordanian news agency “Petra”.
Momani clarified that the decision was made in accordance with the law, based on the definition of broadcasting in the Audiovisual Media Law and a specific decision issued by the Special Council for Interpreting Laws.
This led the commission to file a new complaint with the Attorney General of Amman, and legal procedures were taken accordingly, following the law and regulations.
He emphasized that the Media Commission will enforce the law without hesitation against violators, indicating that the judiciary is the ultimate authority in issuing judgments.
Meanwhile, the Al-Yarmouk Channel issued a press statement regarding the security forces raiding the channel’s headquarters in the capital Amman, closing its headquarters, and confiscating its devices and equipment.
Wael Al-Saqa, chairman of the channel’s board of directors, said in a press statement that the management of the Al-Yarmouk Satellite Channel was surprised by the security forces raiding the channel’s headquarters in Amman yesterday afternoon, closing its headquarters, and confiscating its devices and equipment.
The Al-Yarmouk administration stated that the channel started its work more than 12 years ago after fulfilling all the objective and legal conditions for broadcasting at the time.
At the same time, it is a company registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in a fundamental and legal manner, and has a valid professional license from the Municipality of Amman. It also owns a registered trademark and is officially registered in London.
The administration added that the channel has adopted a national and purposeful media policy, manifested through its valuable and conservative programs that enhance the national role.
Throughout its professional career, it has been guided by the supreme interests of the nation and supported the just causes of the nation, with a moderate media approach.
The administration pointed out that this unexpected action comes at a sensitive and critical time of targeting the nation and its central issues, which dominate most of the channel’s programs and coverage during this period and constitutes an abuse of the image of press and media freedoms in our country.
The administration continued that many judicial rulings have been issued in previous periods to acquit the channel and relieve it of the charge of broadcasting without a license and of any violation of the law, and thus the judiciary considered that the procedures taken by the channel are legal and sound.
The statement concluded by saying that the channel appeals to the reason of the state to stop and retract from any action that affects the channel, which has become the conscience of every free and honorable citizen at the national, Arab, and Islamic levels.
