Jordanian authorities have decided to close the "Yarmouk" channel, affiliated with the Islamic Action Front party ("Muslim Brotherhood"), for not obtaining and holding the necessary official licenses. Bashir Al-Momani, the Director General of the Jordanian Media Commission, stated that the commission filed a complaint with the public prosecutor in Amman against the Yarmouk channel company for violating the audiovisual media law by broadcasting without a license. The public prosecutor decided to confiscate the equipment used in the "crime of broadcasting without a license as part of the evidence in the case."
Al-Momani added that the commission had previously submitted several complaints regarding this issue, some of which included a general pardon. The last ruling was issued by the highest judicial authority in Jordan (the Court of Cassation), which annulled the previous decisions and deemed the channel's actions as "a crime of broadcasting without a license," according to the Jordanian news agency "Petra."
He clarified that the decision was made in accordance with the law, consistent with the definition of broadcasting in audiovisual media law and in accordance with a specific ruling from the department responsible for interpreting laws, which led the commission to file a new complaint with the public prosecutor in Amman and proceed with the judicial processes accordingly.
Al-Momani stated that the media commission would enforce the law without hesitation against violators, noting that the judiciary is the decisive authority in issuing rulings.
For its part, the Yarmouk channel issued a press statement regarding the security forces' raid on the channel's headquarters in the capital, Amman, resulting in its closure and the confiscation of its equipment. Wail Al-Saqa, the chairman of the channel's board, expressed surprise at the security forces' raid on the channel's headquarters in Amman yesterday afternoon.
The management of Yarmouk stated that the channel had been operating for over 12 years after meeting all the essential and legal broadcasting conditions at that time. They emphasized that it is a company registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in a legally proper manner, holds a valid professional license from the Greater Amman Municipality, owns a registered trademark, and is officially registered in London.
The management added: "The channel has pursued a national and purposeful media policy that has been reflected through its valuable and conservative programs which enhance the national role. Throughout its professional journey, it has focused on the higher interests of the nation and advocated for the just causes of the nation, adopting a prudent and moderate media approach."
They noted that "this surprising action comes at a critical and sensitive time of targeting the nation and its central issues, which dominate most of the channel's programs and coverage during this period, and it constitutes a disservice to the image of press and media freedoms in our country."
