Journalist Legal Protection Program

Ever since the Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists was founded in 1998 we have taken an interest in the legal issues faced by journalists and the challenges faced by media workers when facing trial in court.

Journalists felt that they were alone fighting an uphill legal battle without any knowledge of the legal process. Jordanian legislation pertaining to the media was used to restrict the press and often forced journalists to operate in legal gray areas. Worse, journalists often resorted to self-censorship to avoid legal consequences.

It was in these circumstances that CDFJ decided to launch its Legal Protection Program to raise awareness among journalists about the legal system and their rights and to train lawyers specialized in litigating on behalf of media workers.

 To date the Legal Protection Program has established legal aid units specializing in media law in Jordan, Egypt and Morocco while the program has conducted legal workshops for journalists in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria and the Palestinian Territories.