We are writing to acknowledge your decision to designate a special tribunal to hear cases of so called “honor” killings in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
To:
The Foreign Ministers of Member States of the European Union
The High Representative of the European Union for the CFSP, Mr. Javier Solana
The Commissioner for External Relations, Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
The Personal Representative of the SG/HR on Human Rights, Ms. Riina Kionka
Your upcoming visit to Israel and Jordan is an opportunity to reaffirm America’s commitment to basic principles of human rights and freedom while promoting security and extending a helping hand of friendship to the Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian people.
We write to urge you to withdraw the current draft laws on charitable societies (NGO Law) and public gatherings (Assembly Law) from consideration of the House of Deputies and the House of Senators respectively because they are in clear violation of international human rights standards.
Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, the OIC should consider two amendments to the Convention to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.
We read with interest your detailed reply to our World Report 2008 chapter detailing major human rights related developments in 2007. Your reply, and in particular the detail you provide, are amongst the most productive governmental correspondence Human Rights Watch has received in response to our reporting. We trust this marks the seriousness with which Jordan is treating the protection of human rights, and hope this approach will allow for genuine discussion of contentious areas.