On 02 February 2026, the Deanship of Student Affairs at the University of Jordan announced that the University Council, without consulting the Student Union or other student groups, had made forced changes to the Union’s bylaws.

These amendments included Article 3 of the bylaws, which granted deans of faculties, after consulting with the Dean of Student Affairs, the right to appoint a number of Student Union members. The number of seats allocated to student electoral lists at the University of Jordan level was also reduced from 18 to 14.

Under this appointment authority, the administration was able to appoint 18% of the members of the University of Jordan Student Union’s General Council, with one member from each of the 22 faculties, two members representing international students, and one member representing students with disabilities, totaling 25 seats filled by appointment rather than direct election.

Student blocs across the political spectrum, including independent groups, have decided to reject these amendments, which infringe upon students’ right to free elections. Most have agreed to boycott the elections scheduled for 19 May 2026.

In response to these campaigns of rejection and calls for a public boycott, the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate (GID), in cooperation with other security agencies, launched a major crackdown. This included dozens of summonses issued to student activists and graduates, during which they were subjected to ill-treatment, abuse, severe beatings, and threats against their families. These summonses lasted for hours, from morning until evening, and were conducted incommunicado.

Reliable reports received by the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) confirm that these summonses are ongoing and have extended to other Jordanian universities. This is part of the GID’s effort to transform student unions from independent associations representing student views into mouthpieces for the authorities.

GCHR condemns the ongoing repression by the Jordanian GID of student and union activities, and its persistent attempts to restrict public freedoms. The GID must cease interfering in student affairs and their right to freely elect their representatives to the student union.

The duty of all security agencies is to protect citizens, including students, not to infringe upon their civil and human rights.