In March, protests erupted in the cities of On 25 March, authorities effectively banned Irbid, Salt, Aqaba and Karak after at least 10 Clubhouse, a social media audio app used to Covid-19 patients died because of a shortage discuss topics, including civil and political of oxygen in a government hospital in Salt. rights. In response, several human rights Protesters demanded accountability for the organizations published tips on using specific deaths and a halt to Covid-19 restrictions virtual private networks (VPNs) to access the such as night curfews that they criticized as app, which the authorities subsequently ineffective. In December, five individuals blocked. were sentenced to three years in prison after Several human rights organizations and being found responsible for the patients’ workers told Amnesty International about deaths. The protesters also blamed the internet disruptions in March, including government for worsening economic banning Facebook Live to limit coverage of conditions and called for an end to the protests. emergency law, known as the defence law, In April, in the aftermath of the alleged which was used to limit civil and political planned coup, a two-day internet shutdown rights. Security forces met demonstrators affected parts of western Amman. Several with force, including heavy use of tear gas. organizations reported to Amnesty To mark the 10th anniversary of the 24 International that this adversely affected the March Movement, a 2011 youth-led vaccination programme and businesses. On movement calling for reform, protests were 6 April, the public prosecutor issued a set to happen in Amman and the northern gagging order on traditional and social media cities of Irbid, Mafraq and Ramtha to call for regarding investigations into the alleged the end of the defence law and the cabinet’s planned coup. The gagging order remained resignation. However, security forces in force at the end of the year. prevented individuals from joining the Between 24 June and 15 July, the protests and arrested dozens of others. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, interior minister stated that the government in coordination with the Ministry of “would not tolerate protests that would Education, disrupted messaging apps to worsen the health crisis.” All those arrested “preserve the integrity” of examinations were released shortly afterwards. taking place. May witnessed several days of protests in On 1 July, Ahmad Tabanjieh Kinani was solidarity with Palestinians in East released on bail after being held for almost a Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. year for peacefully showing solidarity with the On 14 May, Jordanian riot police used tear teachers’ syndicate. He had been detained in gas and fired live ammunition in the air to August 2020, accused of acts criminalized by disperse protesters near the King Hussein the Counter Terrorism Law. Bridge in the Jordan Valley. On 30 June, authorities arrested members WORKERS’ RIGHTS of the teachers’ trade union, including its The economic crisis led to an unprecedented head Nasser al-Nawasrah, hours before a spike in unemployment, rising to 25% in the planned march in solidarity with teachers first quarter and up to 50% for young people. forced into early retirement. Authorities had A total of 146 teachers were forced into also arrested teachers protesting about the early retirement in 2021, including several same issue in early January. All those members and/or board members of the detained were released soon after arrest. teachers’ syndicate, a development widely FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION believed to be retribution for their participation in protests in 2019 and 2020. Civic space continued to shrink as authorities Early retirement pushed families already tightened arbitrary restrictions on online and under strain because of Covid-19 measures offline expression. further into poverty. Amnesty International Report 2021/22 216