Conservative members of parliament are trying to introduce a ban on alcohol in Jordan, one deputy told AFP Wednesday.
Mahmoud Kharabshe, an independent conservative, said "the bill has been prepared by certain deputies from various leanings who will work to get it adopted," adding that "Jordan is a Muslim country which should apply the principles of Sharia (Islamic law) banning the consumption and sale of alcohol."
He would not give a figure for the number of deputies involved but said he expected the bill would get majority support in the 80-member chamber.
Kharabshe, who is a member of the legal committee of the parliament, said "the bill will be studied soon by the committee ahead of it going before the next session of parliament," which is due to start in the autumn.
Two previous attempts by deputies to put through a bill introducing Sharia law and therefore banning alcohol were voted down in 1991 and last February because of differences among the deputies.
In the mid-90's, parliament succeeded in banning alcohol on board flights of the national Royal Jordanian (RJ) airline serving Arab countries.
Al-Dustour daily reported Wednesday that "a group of deputies are determined to work towards getting alcohol banned in Jordan and on board all flights of RJ."
These deputies are still divided on the question of whether the ban should be universal or not extend to hotels and places visited by tourists - AMMAN (AFP)
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