Satire of Prince's wedding leads Amman to block AlHudood website

The satirical newsite in Arabic and English is unreachable throughout the country. Activists and critics link the blockage to the coverage of Prince Hussein's lavish wedding. In the past, the site had also been censored by other Gulf nations, such as the Emirates, for articles on human rights, corruption and freedom.

Amman (AsiaNews) - The Jordanian authorities, a land considered to be among the most liberal and open-minded in the Middle Eastern and Muslim world, have dropped the axe of censorship on the famous news website AlHudood, "guilty" of having satirized the recent marriage of the king's son last month.

At least that is the most likely hypothesis put forward by local experts and activists for the closure of a portal that, in the past, had received similar treatment from other Gulf states, notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for articles on human rights, corruption and free speech.

Since its foundation in 2013, AlHudood ('The Limits', in Arabic) has grown in popularity, boasts at least 19 authors and contributors, and is considered the local counterpart of the American 'The Onion'.

The site has published more than 6,000 satirical articles and cartoons, as well as videos and short films, and has garnered more than 68,000 followers on Instagram. On its home page, it describes itself as a 'form of organised gossip' that publishes content on the region's problems through comedy and satire, in both Arabic and English.

Amman did not want to explain the reasons behind the blockade. Commenting on the measure, AlHudood staff underlined the growing lack of freedom in Jordan, defending the work of the site which, in recent years, has grown to cover the entire Middle East and North Africa region.

"It is very unfortunate to see freedoms of all kinds deteriorating with ease in Jordan," a staff member told The New Arab, going on to remark on concerns about the effects "on the publication, journalists and citizens" in terms of freedom. The first difficulties in reaching the site, reported by readers, were followed by a general blockade in the country. 

Activists and critical voices explain that the censorship is a response by the authorities to articles and cartoons (in the photo, taken from the site) on the recent marriage of the son of King Abd Allah II and Queen Rania, with Crown Prince Hussein getting married to Saudi Rajwa al-Saif in a sumptuous ceremony.

In one of the posts, the satirical newspaper commented on the 'campaign' launched by Amman for the wedding under the slogan 'Be happy, dog'. It also asked "where did the prince get all this money to cover the wedding costs?" in a nation going through deep economic and social difficulties. Finally, one article suggested that the Jordanian authorities would impose fines and penalties on those who did not look happy at the wedding.

The affair reopens the question of freedoms and rights in the Hashemite kingdom, considered among the most open and respectful of human rights and freedoms in the region. Nevertheless, international NGOs such as Human Rights Watch (Hrw) have highlighted restrictions and critical issues: in a report published at the beginning of the year, Amman is accused of "criminalising" criticism of the royal family, foreign governments or the country's institutions. Hrw also documented how the authorities use vague and broad criminal laws to target free speech. The report found that the number of cases relating to these charges almost doubled in 2020 compared to the previous year.

• Jordan
• United Arab Emirates
• AlHudood
• satire
• information
• freedom
• rights