AMMAN, Jordan, May 22 (UPI) -- Jordan's Islamists blasted the government for preventing them from holding a rally to mark the kingdom's 60th anniversary of independence.
The Islamic Action Front, the political arm of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood Organization which commands the biggest bloc in parliament, said Monday the administrative governor of Amman refused to give the party permission to hold the rally Friday.
"No reasons were given for the refusal," an IAF statement said, criticizing the law which empowers the governor to permit or deny public gatherings.
It charged that the law contradicted the constitution and restricted political action, casting doubt on political reforms promised by the government.
"This law has become an obstacle to political life," the statement said, calling on the political parties and institutions of civilian society to protest against the legislation, which "constrains the Jordanian people and restricts its political movements."
The statement charged that the "objective of maintaining the law is to weaken political activists and dwarf political life in Jordan, which is contradictory to the slogans of reforms that no one believes anymore," the statement said.
The law of public gatherings is subject to repeated criticism by the opposition and civilian society which call for its cancellation on the grounds that it contradicts public freedoms.
Under the law, rallies, sit-ins, demonstrations or lectures cannot be organized without acquiring advance permission from the authorities.
