The Jordanian government on Wednesday shut down the office of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite news channel, accusing it of provoking "sedition" by airing views critical of the kingdom's rulers.
Jordanian Information Minister, Mohammad Affash Adwan said the license allowing the station to operate in the kingdom and accreditation of Al-Jazeera's correspondents were revoked.
According to AP, the closure comes one day after Al-Jazeera aired a talk-show program in which a U.S.-based Palestinian university professor, Assad Abu-Khalil, rebuked Jordan's late King Hussein and his grandfather, King Abdullah I.
Abu-Khalil accused Jordan of pro-Israeli stances even before it officially inked a peace agreement with teh Jewish state in 1994. Additionally, he argued that late king Hussein had cooperated with the U.S. intelligence apparatus.
The program, "Opposite Direction," has often stirred controversy among Arab governments because of its critical approach to Arab politics and leadership.
Adwan said Al-Jazeera "continuously intends to harm Jordan and its national stands whether directly or indirectly." "This station has exceeded all professional and moral values in dealing with many national issues," he said in remarks carried by the official Petra news agency.
He said the station had targeted Jordan "in a way which confirms that its main goal is to create disturbance ... and provoke sedition."
Implicitly referring to Tuesday's talk-show program, Adwan said the station had surpassed "all kinds of decency in its programs by attacking the nation's leaders and its nobilities." (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
