Al Mayadeen reveals arbitrary arrest of journalist Mohammed Faraj in Jordan

Faraj has been held since he arrived in Amman one week ago, with Jordanian authorities providing no information on his status  

News Desk  -  The Cradle 

Al Mayadeen reported on 19 December that journalist Mohammed Faraj has been detained by Jordanian authorities for a week without his status, the reasons for his arrest, or information about his whereabouts being disclosed, adding that Amman has provided no official clarification despite repeated inquiries.

Faraj, a journalist, political program presenter, and documentary producer with Al Mayadeen, was detained after returning to Jordan on vacation with his wife, fellow journalist Rana Abi Jumaa. 

The couple arrived at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman last Friday, where Faraj was stopped by Jordanian authorities upon entry.

Faraj was reportedly detained at the airport, subjected to a thorough search and interrogation, then taken to an undisclosed location. 

Faraj’s family was told he would be released shortly, but he was never freed, with no charges announced, and no information has been provided about his legal status or whereabouts. 

According to Al Mayadeen, all information about his condition remains based on hearsay, as family members have not been allowed to see him despite repeated requests.

The network said it has been following the case since the detention began and has called on relevant Jordanian authorities to disclose Faraj’s fate, allow his wife and family to visit him, and secure his immediate release, while also appealing to media workers and intellectuals in Jordan and across the Arab world

Condemnations of Faraj’s detention have come from several political and cultural bodies in Jordan, including the Jerusalem and Cultural Democratic Alliance within the Jordanian Writers Association, which described his arrest as a violation of his legal rights and a detention carried out without any clear charges. The association’s head, Muwaffaq Mahadin, also expressed solidarity with Faraj and with Al Mayadeen.

The Jordanian Communist Party and the Jordanian National Popular Front also condemned the detention, calling it a violation of basic rights and legal guarantees, and demanding Faraj’s immediate release.

Faraj has worked at Al Mayadeen for years and is also affiliated with the Arab National Conference, according to the network.

The detention also comes as Jordan maintains formal diplomatic and security coordination with Israel, even as Tel Aviv accelerates its grip over the occupied West Bank, a dynamic that has long placed Amman under pressure over how it manages political expression linked to the Palestinian cause.

In July, Middle East Eye (MEE) reported that Jordanian authorities had launched their largest campaign of arrests against pro-Palestine activism since 1989, with hundreds detained or interrogated over expressions of solidarity with Gaza – often without charge or disclosure – as part of a security crackdown that sources said was tied to Jordan’s regional alignments and management of the Palestinian issue at home.