AMMAN, Jordan, May 10 (UPI) -- An annual report on the state of press freedoms in Jordan concluded that no progress had been made, despite calls pressing for political reforms.
The report, prepared by the non-governmental organization the Center of Protecting the Freedoms of Journalists in Jordan, reviewed press conditions in 2005 based on an opinion poll of Jordanian journalists.
The poll, published as part of the report Wednesday, indicated that the majority of journalists are unhappy with the state of press freedoms, with 84 percent saying they are average and below.
A field study also showed that violations of press freedoms are continuing in different ways, including arrests, interference, harassment, censorship and trials.
The poll indicated that 70.7 percent of journalists believe that existing laws constitute serious restrictions and limitations on press freedoms.
Sixty-two percent believe that the penal code is among the laws reflecting adversely on press freedoms, while 35.1 percent said imprisonment is the biggest restriction to freedom.
Other laws that the report cites as restricting press freedoms are the law of printing and publication; the law of the state security court; the law of state secrets and confidential documents; the law of the audio-visual media; and the law of the press syndicate.
The report said 53 lawsuits were filed against publications in Jordan last year; one newspaper was barred from publication on two occasions and the printing of another was delayed.
