The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) declares its full solidarity with Jordanian human rights defender Hala Ahed, who is being subjected to a fierce campaign targeting her on social media due to her peaceful and legitimate human rights work.

This campaign followed the publication of an announcement on 13 June 2023 about the organisation of a training course that she is facilitating on the concept of feminism, and includes sessions in which she talks about domination and authoritarianism, justice and other topics.

On 14 June 2023, Ahed posted the following tweet on her Twitter account: “Within two days, what we have been witnessing as women for years intensified; attempts to exclude, and impose a single model of values and morals. To everyone who attacked me… Yes, you are right, I do not look like you, and I work and will continue to work to combat oppression and injustice, whether it is practiced by political or social authority. I am not subject to financing, agendas, threats or intimidation.”

On 26 May 2023, Ahed won the Front Line Defenders Award 2023 for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. In her speech, she presented it to her colleagues in the Jordanian Women’s Union, the National Forum for Defending Freedoms and the Jordanian Teachers Syndicate (JTS). Despite a judicial decision allowing the JTS to resume its activities after being banned, the government refuses to hold new elections or allow them to operate again.

GCHR denounces this unfair campaign against prominent human rights defender Hala Ahed, at a time when she deserves to be celebrated for her achievement in defending the civil and human rights of citizens. 

GCHR calls on the Jordanian authorities to provide Hala Ahed with all forms of protection in order for her to do her peaceful work without any harassment or targeting through or outside social media networks.