Date: 2 May 2008
Title: His Majesty King Abdullah II's letter to the Prime Minister on World Press Freedoms Day


In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate,

Our dear brother, Your Excellency Nader Dahabi, the prime minister,

God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you,

It is our pleasure to extend to you, and to your colleagues the ministers, our greetings and best wishes for continued success.

Every year, on the third day of May, the world celebrates World Press Freedoms Day, and I saw in this occasion a good opportunity to address all those concerned with the media and to reaffirm the basic components of our vision in support of the freedom of the media.

I start by recalling the historic and strong bond between Jordan's establishment as a genuine Arab home for Arab freedom fighters, and its role in sponsoring and embracing those who utter the rightful word and express the wise opinion. Jordan, built on authenticity and noble values, is bound by this heritage to remain an oasis, dedicated to protecting freedoms and to preserving words of truth. Here, we reaffirm that we are keen not to limit the responsible exercise of press freedom, and that we seek to empower the press and enhance its role in expressing the homeland's conscience and the ambitions of its daughters and sons, within a framework of accuracy, objectivity and professionalism.

Under the umbrella of this authentic relationship between the nation's foundation and the respect for freedom and for expression, we appreciate the government's relentless efforts to media freedom, and to enhance its march, to entrench the culture of pluralism and democracy in Jordan.

For us, the media will always be a fourth authority, dealing with all institutions and individuals on an equal basis, uncovering the truth, warning of what is wrong, highlighting what is right and seeking to preserve the homeland's interests by defending the rights of Jordan and the Jordanians, and putting their interests first and always, above all interests and all considerations.

This is the vital, honourable national role that our national media institutions play, and we urge those in the media, on this day, to continue with these steps, innovating and disseminating ideas of value to the people, while we support their national and responsible role.

We reaffirm anew that the role of the national media and its freedom are to be preserved in our country. They are representatives of all points of view, abiding by the ethical and professional rules, rising above character assassination, refraining from slander, holding to objectivity and transparency and eschewing whatever may hurt our national unity.

It remains to be said that our confidence in Jordanian society's respect for freedom of the media is strong and deep-rooted. We hope that the dynamic between the media and society would lead to legislation that is progressive and wise and that differentiates right from wrong and defines the ethics of the profession.

This dynamic should be accompanied by a national dialogue to propose legislation that complements and enriches existing legislation in order to strengthen the protection of media personnel and opinion, and will affirm respect for individual rights. Such legislation should be drafted in accordance with the most modern and reliable international practices and norms.

We reaffirm on this day our earlier statements concerning our opposition to the confiscation of the freedom of those working for the media because of a difference of opinion on a public issue, as long as this opinion does not infringe on people's rights, freedoms, honour or integrity.

May God Almighty grant us success to serve our dear people, and realise what they aspire to achieve in terms of glory, progress and growth.

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you

Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein
Amman, 2 May 2008