Jordanian MPs may face prosecution over alleged Twitter insults

During a meeting held behind closed doors, Jordan's parliamentary legal committee has recommended that immunity for six members of parliament should be lifted - so they can stand trial for alleged offences.

Mustafa al-Amawi, the head of the committee, said that the body made the decision after reviewing a document from Jordan's prime minister, Abdallah Ensour.

The MPs in question include Ahmad al-Safadi, Qusai al-Dmeisi, Mohammad al-Dawaimeh, Mirza Bollad and Motaz Abu Rumman, who may find themselves standing trial in cases filed by Jordanians, accused of libel, slander and denigration.

The request to lift their MPs' immunity was made by the head of the judicial council and the general prosecutor of the semi-militarised state security court.

The head of the judicial council also requested permission to lift the immunity of Tarek al-Khoury MP.

He is accused of inciting "anti-government sentiments" after he made comments on social media allegedly "insulting" Jordan's King Abdullah and Jordanians.

Khoury has been accused of mocking a speech by Jordan's king, who told Jordanians to 'hold your heads high'.

Khoury has been accused of mocking a speech by Jordan's king, who told Jordanians to "hold your heads high".

The MP made disparaging comments on Twitter, parodying sections of the king's speech, about figures involved in a highly controversial gas deal with Israel.

His remarks were met with protests by a number of Jordanians who demonstrated outside parliament.

Khoury responded by saying that he respected the judiciary and was only exercising his right to free speech.

Amawi, of the Jordanian parliament's legal committee, said that parliament would meet on Sunday and vote on the committee's recommendations.

According to parliamentary procedure, immunity of MPs can be only lifted if an absolute majority vote in favour.

Last week, a Jordanian diplomat with the rank of ambassador, Munther al-Khasawneh, resigned after he allegedly insulted the foreign minister, Nasser Judeh.

Khasawneh also referenced the king's "hold your heads high" speech in the offending Facebook post.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.