URGENT ACTION

POLITICAL ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS
On 7 January 2025, the Jordanian State Security Court sentenced Ayman Sanduka, a political activist and mathematics professor, to five years in prison for “incitement to oppose the political regime” in relation to a Facebook post addressed to the King in October 2023 in which he criticized Jordan’s diplomatic relations with Israel. The Jordanian authorities should drop all charges and immediately and unconditionally release Ayman Sanduka, as he was sentenced solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression. 

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein
Royal Hashemite Court
Amman, Jordan
Twitter: @KingAbdullahII

Your Majesty,

I am distressed to learn that the State Security Court (SSC) in Jordan has convicted political activist and mathematics professor, Ayman Sanduka, of “incitement to oppose the political regime” solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression on social media. 

On 21 December 2023, the State Security Court prosecutor summoned and detained Ayman Sanduka in relation to a letter he posted on Facebook in October 2023 addressed to Your Majesty in which he criticized Jordan’s diplomatic relations with Israel. On 7 January 2025, the State Security Court convicted Ayman Sanduka of "incitement to oppose the political regime”, under article 149 of the Penal Code and article 15 of the Cybercrimes Law and sentenced him to five years in prison. 

Ayman Sanduka’s detention stems solely from the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression. Arrest or detention as punishment for the legitimate exercise of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, is arbitrary and violates Jordan’s obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

I urge you to ensure that Ayman Sanduka is immediately and unconditionally released as he has been convicted solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. Pending his release, I urge you to ensure that he is protected from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and has access to adequate medical care on request or as necessary.
Yours sincerely,

Additional information

Ayman Sanduka was initially summoned by the public prosecutor on 18 December 2023 in relation to Facebook posts expressing pro-Palestinian sentiments, including a call for a general strike in support of Gaza. On 21 December 2023, the State Security Court prosecutor summoned and detained Ayman Sanduka in relation to a letter he posted on Facebook in October addressed to the King of Jordan in which he criticized Jordan’s diplomatic relations with Israel. 
According to his lawyer, on 23 January 2024, Ayman Sanduka was transferred from Marka prison in Amman to Al-Tafilah prison, which is about 300 km from his hometown, making it very hard for his family to visit him. Security forces also subjected him to verbal humiliation, and, during his transfer, tightly tied his hands and feet. On 24 January 2024, a criminal court sentenced Ayman Sanduka in another case to three months in prison on charges of “defaming an official body”, under the new Cybercrime Law. On 12 February 2024, the State Security Court prosecutor charged Ayman Sanduka of "incitement to oppose the political regime”, under article 149 of the Penal Code. 
On 7 January 2025, the State Security Court convicted Ayman Sanduka of "incitement to oppose the political regime,” under Article 149 of the Penal Code and Article 15 of the Cybercrimes Law, and sentenced him to five years in prison. While the sentence was formally issued as five years of labor under Article 149, in practice, this equates to a term of imprisonment.
Since the October 2023 Israeli offensive in Gaza, the Jordanian authorities weaponized overly broad laws, including the Cybercrimes Law, to target and harass journalists, activists and others for expressing opinions online that are critical of government policies towards Israel. Amnesty International documented the cases of 15 individuals who were prosecuted under the Penal Code and the Cybercrimes Law after criticizing the authorities online. In all these cases, the authorities violated the defendants’ rights including by arresting them without a warrant, failing to inform them of the reasons for their summons or the charges against them, questioning them without a lawyer and using psychological coercion and intimidating tactics during their interrogation or trial.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English and Arabic.
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 7 August 2025.
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PRONOUN: Ayman Sanduka (he/him).

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde16/7865/2024/en/.

Additional targets

His excellency Mr Manar m. Dabbas
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 
6 Upper Phillimore Gardens W8 7HA 
020 7937 3685 
london@fm.gov.jo 
www.jordanembassy.org.uk 
Monday-Friday 09:00-16:00 
Salutation: Your Excellency