jordan pulse -

Journalist Mohammad Sobeihi reports that a majority of lawmakers are urging the government to draft a new general amnesty law. However, the government has rejected the idea, citing the most recent amnesty law enacted in April 2024.

Sobeihi argues that no country in the world issues two general amnesty laws within a single year, as it could weaken deterrence in criminal legislation and undermine judicial authority and the stability of court rulings. He also suggests that lawmakers have not provided strong justifications for a new amnesty law, making their push appear more like an election-driven move to gain public favor.

While acknowledging that the 2024 amnesty law was not perfect, Sobeihi proposes an alternative: instead of drafting a new law, lawmakers could amend the existing one to address its shortcomings. He recommends that they either introduce a bill to modify the law or submit a detailed memorandum outlining desired changes.

In particular, he suggests that the amendments should cover crimes or penalties where reconciliation and personal rights waivers have occurred, as well as certain offenses related to Syrian entities that are now recognized as the legitimate government by Jordan, the Arab world, and the international community.